Background: Impacting approximately 20-30% of adults, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading contributor to liver dysfunction. This condition is characterized by the accumulation of more than 5% fat in the liver without the presence of concurrent chronic liver diseases or alcohol abuse. NAFLD manifests across a spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to more complex forms involving hepatic lesions, inflammation and fibrosis. This research aimed to assess the therapeutic effectiveness of Bovine Lactoferrin (BLF) in a model of NAFLD using male C57BL/6 mice. 
 
Methods: Adult male C57BL6 mice, with an average weight of 28 g, were obtained and maintained in a consistent environment at 22&plusmn;2oC for 6 weeks, following a regulated 12-hour light-12-hour dark cycle. Control groups 1 and 3 were provided with a standard pellet feed, while model groups 2, 4, 5 and 6 were supplied with a high-fat diet. Induction of NAFLD included administering a high-fat diet (HFD) and CCl4 (0.5 mg/kg with olive oil) twice a week via intraperitoneal injection over 6 weeks. After the experimental procedures, an assessment of serum-biochemical parameters, inflammatory cytokines, anti-oxidant profile and liver histopathology were conducted. 
 
Result: The results revealed significant (p&lt;0.05) alteration in sero-biochemical parameters, inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, TNF-&alpha;, NF-kB and TGF-&beta;) anti-oxidant profile (nitric oxide assay, TBARS, SOD, GSH and Catalase) and histopathology of group 2 as compared to other groups. The groups 4, 5 and 6 showed significant improvement in all the parameters compared to disease control. The findings from this study suggest that BLF could potentially function as a therapeutic intervention for mitigating hepatic injury, inflammation and fibrosis in NAFLD by deactivating NF-kB pathway.

Bovine Lactoferrin Mitigates Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in CCL4 and High-fat Diet-induced NAFLD in C57BL/6 Mice

Background: We studied the effects of manual acupuncture (MA) and warm acupuncture (WA) on early-stage nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in relation to fat accumulation by observing the mRNA expression of nuclear factor-&kappa;B (NF-&kappa;B) p65 and tumor necrosis factor-&alpha; (TNF-&alpha;) in a rat model with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by high-fat diet. 
 
Methods: The experiment was performed using Sprague Dawley rats randomly divided into control (CON), NAFLD, NAFLD + MA and NAFLD + WA groups. Acupuncture was performed on the SP9 + BL18 acupoint from each group for 5 min, twice a week for 8 weeks. Total cholesterol (TC) was measured in the serum and triglyceride (TG) and resistin were measured in the hepatic tissue. In addition, hematoxylin and eosin stain, Masson&rsquo;s trichrome stain, Oil red O stain and perilipin immunohistochemistry were used for histological analysis. Finally, quantitative polymerase chain reactions were performed to observe the changes in TLR4, NF-&kappa;B p65 and TNF-&alpha;. 
 
Result: Resitin and TLR4 decreased in the NAFLD + WA group. The NAFLD + MA group exhibited reduced levels of TC and TG, which mitigated NF-&kappa;B p65 and TNF-&alpha; mRNA downregulation through downregulation of the TLR4.

Effects of Acupuncture on the mRNA Expression of NF-&kappa;B p65/TNF-&alpha; Activated by Fat Accumulation in High-fat Diet-induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Rats

<div>Background: Polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) are persistent environmental pollutants found extensively in various ecosystems. However, their specific impact on liver function remains inadequately investigated. 
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Methods: Adult male wistar rats were orally exposed to PE-MPs (1-10 &micro;m) at doses of 0.1, 1 and 5 mg/kg/day over 28 days. Attenuated total reflectance-fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and fluorescence microscopy identified accumulations of PE-MPs. Liver tissues were examined histologically using Haematoxylin and Eosin staining. Oxidative stress was measured by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. Transcriptomic analysis was performed to detect differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional enrichment analyses were conducted using gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopaedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathways. Key genes were validated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). 
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Result: Accumulation of PE-MPs was detected in liver tissue. Histological evaluation revealed dose-dependent liver injury, including inflammatory infiltration and periportal fibrosis. Elevated MDA levels indicated increased oxidative stress via lipid peroxidation (LPO). qRT-PCR investigation confirmed the upregulation of mitochondrial dysfunction-related genes (NDUFC, UQCRH, MT-CO2), pro-inflammatory genes (TNF-&alpha;, CXCL1, IL-1&beta;) and fibrosis markers (IL-6, Col1A1, &alpha;-SMA). Transcriptomic analysis identified 189 DEGs linked with oxidative stress, inflammation and lipid metabolism pathways. Altogether, PE-MPs exposure induces oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation and fibrosis, contributing to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) like hepatic alterations. This highlights the potential risk of PE-MPs as emerging environmental threats to liver health. 
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Bovine Lactoferrin Mitigates Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in CCL₄ and High-fat Diet-induced NAFLD in C57BL/6 Mice

Effects of Acupuncture on the mRNA Expression of NF-κB p65/TNF-α Activated by Fat Accumulation in High-fat Diet-induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Rats

Polyethylene Microplastics Induced Hepatic Oxidative Stress and Early Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Wistar Rats