Cafestol preconditioning attenuates apoptosis and autophagy during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting ERK/PPARγ pathway

Abstract Objective The study was aimed to explore the hepatocellular protective functions of cafestol during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury and the possible mechanisms. Methods Ninety male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into seven groups, including normal control group, L-cafestol(20mg/kg) group, H-cafestol(40mg/kg) group, sham group, IR group, L-cafestol(20mg/kg) + IR group, H-cafestol(40mg/kg) + IR group. Serum liver enzymes (ALT, AST), inflammation mediators, proteins associated with apoptosis and autophagy, indicators linked with ERK/PPARγ pathway, and liver histopathology were measured using ELISA, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemical staining, and western blotting at 2, 8, and 24 hours after reperfusion. Results Our findings confirmed that cafestol preconditioning groups could reduce the levels of ALT and AST, alleviate liver pathological damage, suppress the release of inflammation mediators, inhibit the production of pro-apoptosis protein including caspase-3, caspase-9 and Bax, decrease the expression of autophagy-linked protein including Beclin-1 and LC3, increase anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2, and restrain the activation of ERK and PPARγ. Conclusion Cafestol preconditioning could attenuate inflammatory response, apoptosis and autophagy on hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury by suppressing ERK/PPARγ pathway.