Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate positively affects concanavalin A-induced liver damage by regulating macrophage polarization

Abstract

The deficient functional polarization of macrophages is implicated in the disease progression of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). This study aims to evaluate the impact of Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MgIG) on concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatitis in a mouse model, thereby clarifying the molecular mechanisms with which it is associated. MgIG was periodically administered to C57BL/6 mice before one intravenous injection of Con A (20 mg/kg). The MgIG treatment demonstrated a protective function in mice for Con A-induced AIH, the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, and the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. In addition, the MgIG pre-treatment had a significant effect on the number of F4/80+ cells entering the liver. MgIG efficiently facilitated macrophage polarization toward an M2 phenotype. The results indicate that a relationship may exist between the protective impacts of MgIG with respect to Con A-induced liver injury and the capability of the hepatoprotective agent to regulate macrophage polarization.

Keywords

• autoimmune hepatitis
• magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate
• concanavalin a
• macrophages