Protective effect of bioactive ceramics on liver injury: regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokins expression

Aim of study A bioactive ceramics has been reported to regulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines in macrophage cells activated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS). In present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of bioactive ceramics using liver injury model in mouse. Materials and Methods Mice were divided into three groups: Normal group, LPS group (LPS and no ceramics treatment), Ceramics group (LPS and ceramics treatment). Results LPS administration induced the increase of plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in mouse. The losses of cytoplasm of hepatocytes due to LPS caused the increase of AST and ALT in mouse plasma. In Ceramics group, however, the concentration of AST and ALT were much lower than LPS group until 6 weeks. And the losses of cytoplasm were rarely seen in Ceramics group. RT-PCR results showed that the decrease of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-6 was observed in Ceramics group. Moreover, TGF-β1 and VEGF expression was increased in Ceramics group. Conclusion Bioactive ceramics effectively protected endotoxin-induced liver injury by attenuation of inflammatory processes in mice.