Binaprofen induces zebrafish liver injury via the mitochondrial pathway

Binaprofen (C18H23NO5) is a drug not commercially available that causes liver injury; however, the underlying mechanism is unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine the mechanism underlying binaprofen-induced liver injury at the genetic level. Zebrafish were treated with binaprofen. Serum biomarkers [alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)], malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) content analysis, liver cell morphology examination, DAPI staining, electron microscopy, microarray analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q)PCR were performed 12, 24 and 48 h post-treatment to analyze the mechanism underlying binaprofen-induced liver injury. Following exposure to binaprofen, zebrafish serum levels of ALT, AST and LDH increased; MDA content of liver tissue increased and GSH content decreased. Liver cells exhibited mild to moderate vacuolization and mitochondria exhibited vacuolization and disrupted cristae. Liver cell apoptosis rate increased. There were 190 common differentially expressed genes at 12, 24 and 48 h. Gene Ontology analysis showed that the function of downregulated genes was primarily associated with 'DNA replication', 'DNA metabolic process', 'cell cycle', 'cell redox homeostasis', 'mitochondrion' and 'lipid transport'. The function of upregulated genes was primarily associated with 'peroxisome proliferator', 'oxidation activity', 'peroxisome' and 'apoptosis'. Pathway analysis showed that downregulated genes were those pertaining to 'cell cycle', 'DNA replication', 'ribosome', 'spliceosome', 'pyrimidine metabolism', 'purine metabolism', upregulated genes were those pertaining to 'PPAR signaling pathway', 'p53 signaling pathway'; RT-qPCR assay supported the microarray results. The mechanism underlying binaprofen-induced liver injury was associated with lipid peroxidation and apoptosis. Binaprofen downregulated genes associated with lipid transport and anti-apoptosis genes, upregulated pro-apoptosis genes and induces liver cell injury via the mitochondrial signaling pathway.

Automated summary

This study investigated the mechanism of binaprofen-induced liver injury using a zebrafish model and found that it is associated with lipid peroxidation and apoptosis. Binaprofen downregulates genes associated with lipid transport and anti-apoptosis, while upregulating pro-apoptosis genes, leading to liver cell injury through the mitochondrial signaling pathway.