Protective Effects of Functional Chicken Liver Hydrolysates against Liver Fibrogenesis: Antioxidation, Anti-inflammation, and Antifibrosis

Abstract

Via an assay using an Amino Acid Analyzer, pepsin-digested chicken liver hydrolysates (CLHs) contain taurine (365.57 ± 39.04 mg/100 g), carnosine (14.03 ± 1.98 mg/100 g), and anserine (151.58 ± 27.82 mg/100 g). This study aimed to evaluate whether CLHs could alleviate thioacetamide (TAA)-induced fibrosis. A dose of 100 mg TAA/kg BW significantly increased serum liver damage indices and liver cytokine contents. Cell infiltration and monocytes/macrophages in livers of TAA-treated rats were illustrated by the H&E staining and immunohistochemical analysis of cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68, ED1), respectively. A significantly increased hepatic collagen accumulation was also observed and quantified under TAA treatment. A significant up-regulation of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and SMAD family member 4 (SMAD4) caused by TAA treatment further enhanced alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) gene and protein expressions. The liver antioxidant effects under TAA treatment were significantly amended by 200 and 600 mg CLHs/kg BW. Hence, the ameliorative effects of CLHs on liver fibrogenesis could be attributed by antioxidation and anti-inflmmation.