Transcriptome analysis reveals the hepatoprotective mechanism of soybean meal peptides against alcohol-induced acute liver injury mice

This study aimed was to explore the hepatoprotective potential of soybean meal peptides (SPs) against alcoholinduced liver injury and investigate the underlying mechanisms through transcriptome analysis. The chemical antioxidant analysis of SPs exhibited potent ABTS radical scavenging capacity (11.94 +/- 0.41 mg TE/100 mg peptide), ferric reducing antioxidant power (6.42 +/- 0.32 mmol Fe2+/100 mg peptide), and oxygen radical absorption capacity (14.78 +/- 0.01 mg TE/100 mg peptide). Moreover, SPs increased cell viability and reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in Caco-2 cells by H2O2-induced, and without cytotoxicity. In the mice model, preintervention with SPs reduced the levels of aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase, total cholesterol, triglyceride and malondialdehyde by alcohol-induced, meanwhile, increased the levels of total superoxide dismutase, glutathione and catalase by alcohol-induced. Histological analysis showed that SPs alleviated the liver injury by alcohol-induced and no toxic effects on the kidneys. According to transcriptome analysis, 1737 genes were significantly differentially expressed (1076 up-regulated and 661 down-regulated) after SPs pretreatment. The main functions of these genes were related to inflammation, lipid metabolism and oxidation. The findings from the present study suggested that SPs produced positive hepatoprotection and showed potential to be used as a dietary supplement or an ingredient of functional food.

Automated summary

Soybean meal peptides (SPs) exhibited potent antioxidant capacity and showed hepatoprotective potential by increasing cell viability, reducing oxidative stress, and alleviating alcohol-induced liver injury without toxicity. Transcriptome analysis suggested that the hepatoprotective effects of SPs may be related to genes involved in inflammation, lipid metabolism, and oxidation.