Ameliorating effect of probiotic on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and lipolytic gene expression in rabbits

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition that affects about 24% of people worldwide. Increased liver fat, inflammation, and, in the most severe cases, cell death are all characteristics of NAFLD. However, NAFLD pathogenesis and therapy are still not clear enough. Thus, this study aimed to determine the effect of a high-cholesterol diet (HCD) inducing NAFLD on lipolytic gene expression, liver function, lipid profile, and antioxidant enzymes in rabbits and the modulatory effects of probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) on it. A total of 45 male New Zealand white rabbits, eight weeks old, were randomly divided into three groups of three replicates (5 rabbits/replicate). Rabbits in group I were given a basal diet; rabbits in group II were given a high-cholesterol diet that caused NAFLD; and rabbits in group III were given a high-cholesterol diet as well as probiotics in water for 8 weeks. The results showed that a high-cholesterol diet caused hepatic vacuolation and upregulated the genes for lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hepatic lipase (HL), and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP). Downregulated low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) gene, increased liver enzymes [alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)], cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), glucose, and total bilirubin. On the other hand, it decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total protein, albumin, and liver antioxidants [glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)]. Supplementing with probiotics helped to return all parameters to normal levels. In conclusion, probiotic supplementation, especially L. acidophilus, protected against NAFLD, and restored lipolytic gene expression, liver functions, and antioxidants to normal levels.

Automated summary

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects about 24% of people worldwide and is characterized by increased liver fat, inflammation, and cell death in severe cases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a high-cholesterol diet on lipolytic gene expression, liver function, lipid profile, and antioxidant enzymes in rabbits, and the potential modulatory effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) probiotics. The findings showed that a high-cholesterol diet induced hepatic vacuolation and upregulated lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hepatic lipase (HL), and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene expression, while downregulating low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) gene expression. Additionally, it resulted in increased liver enzymes, cholesterol, triglycerides, and decreased high-density lipoprotein, total protein, albumin, and liver antioxidants. Probiotic supplementation, particularly L. acidophilus, helped to restore all parameters to normal levels.