Ursolic acid reverses liver fibrosis by inhibiting NOX4/NLRP3 inflammasome pathways and bacterial dysbiosis.

ABSTRACT: Activation of the NOX4/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway has been associated with fibrosis in other organs. An imbalance in intestinal bacteria is an important driving factor of liver fibrosis through the liver-gut axis. This study aimed to explore whether the effect of ursolic acid (UA) on liver fibrosis was associated with the NOX4/NLRP3 inflammasome pathways and intestinal bacteria. Wild-type (WT), NLRP3^-/-, and NOX4^-/- mice and AP-treated mice were injected with CCI4 and treated with or without UA. The intestinal contents of the mice were collected and analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. UA alleviated liver fibrosis, which manifested as decreases in collagen deposition, liver injury, and the expression of fibrosis-related factors, and the expression of NOX4 an

SUBMITTER: Nie Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8451456 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature