Role of adiponectin and its relationship with heme oxygenase-1 in alcoholic liver disease

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of adiponectin protein and mRNA after chronic alcohol feeding as well as the relationship between heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)and adiponectin.MethodsWe established an animal model of alcoholic liver disease(ALD).Meanwhile,serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate transaminase(AST),plasma tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,glutathione(GSH),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and malonodialdehyde(MDA)in liver homogenate were detected.Adiponectin and HO-1mRNA were detected with RT-PCR.The corrlelations between adiponectin and HO-1mRNA,SOD were analyzed.ResultsThe levels of ALT,AST in serum,TNF-α in plasma,and MDA concentration in liver homogenate were increased compared with those of the normal and control groups.Adiponectin in plasma,GSH and SOD activities in liver homogenate were decreased compared with those of the control and normal groups.Moreover, with the severity of the liver injury,the expression levels of adiponectin and HO-1 mRNA were decreased.The plasma level of adiponectin was positively correlaed with HO-1 mRNA expression level(R²=0.966 2,P<0.01)and SOD activities (R²=0.740 3,P<0.01).ConclusionThe expression level of adiponectin is significantly correlated with liver injury.Adiponectin and HO-1 constitute a new anti-inflammatory pathway which may be also involved in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease process.