Background and Aims: Amanita phalloides is the deadliest toxic mushroom in the world and causes death from acute liver failure. α-amanitin (α-AMA), the most potent toxin, inhibits RNA polymerase II in hepatocytes, stops protein synthesis, and causes hepatotoxicity. However, the information about the mechanisms underlying hepatotoxicity caused by α-AMA is quite inadequate. This study aims to reveal the complex necrotic and apoptotic mechanisms occurring in mouse hepatocytes de- pending on A. phalloides exposure time in vivo.
Methods: BALB-c male mice were divided into 5 groups (n=7): control, α-AMA-2, α-AMA-12, α-AMA-72, and α-AMA-96 groups. A poisoning model was created by oral administration of A. phalloides mushroom extract containing 10 mg/kg of α-AMA to mice and they were sacrificed after 2, 12, 72, and 96 h. Then, TNF-α, Bax, caspase-3, and Bcl-2 gene expression levels in liver tissues were examined by the RT-qPCR method. Time-dependent damage to liver tissues was also evaluated histopathologically.
Results: RT-qPCR results showed that proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α mRNA expression levels increased in mouse liver tissues at 2 and 12 h after A. phalloides administration compared among the groups. Bax mRNA expression levels increased in the 12 and 72 h after A. phalloides ingestion. It was observed that caspase-3 mRNA expression levels increased in the 72 and 96 h groups compared among the groups, while Bcl-2 mRNA expression levels decreased in the 72 and 96 h groups.
Conclusion: Our findings showed that necrotic mechanisms develop in the early period after A. phalloides mushroom poison- ing, and then apoptotic mechanisms are effective. In conclusion, understanding the mechanisms of A. phalloides-induced hepatotoxicity will provide important information for new treatment strategies to be developed.
Scientific Research Projects Coordinator of Dicle University
DUBAP:DUSAM.21.002
The authors are thankful to the Scientific Research Projects Coordinator of Dicle University (DUBAP:DUSAM.21.002) for the partial supports.
DUBAP:DUSAM.21.002
Primary Language | English |
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Subjects | Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Care Administration |
Journal Section | Original Article |
Authors | |
Project Number | DUBAP:DUSAM.21.002 |
Publication Date | December 30, 2022 |
Submission Date | June 27, 2022 |
Published in Issue | Year 2022 Volume: 52 Issue: 3 |