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

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