Astragalus polysaccharide alleviates alcoholic-induced hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting polymerase I and transcript release factor and the TLR4/JNK/NF-κB/MyD88 pathway

Astragali Radix (AR), the root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. or Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao, known as Huangqi in traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for acute and chronic liver injury. AR was the most important medicine in a Chinese traditional prescription called Huangqi Decoction (HQD), has been used to treat chronic liver diseases since the 11th century. In particular, its major active ingredient, Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), has demonstrated promising effects on inhibiting hepatic fibrosis. However, to date, the effect of APS against alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis and its underlying molecular mechanisms remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the effect and potential molecular mechanisms of APS against alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis by using network pharmacology and experimental validation. The potential targets and underling mechanism of AR in alcoholic liver fibrosis were first predicted using network pharmacology, followed by experimental validation using SD rat model with alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis. Further, the predicted candidate signaling pathways and potential target polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF) were combined to explore the multifaceted mechanism of APS against alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis. Finally, overexpression of PTRF was explored to reveal the role of PTRF in the mechanism of APS against alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis. APS exerted potent anti-hepatic fibrosis effects by downregulating genes involved in the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/JNK/NF-κB/MyD88 pathway. Notably, APS treatment ameliorated the hepatic damage by inhibiting the overexpression of PTRF and decreasing the co-localisation of TLR4/PTRF. Overexpression of PTRF induced reversal of the protective effects of APS on alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis. This study indicated that APS may alleviate alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of PTRF and TLR4/JNK/NF-κB/MyD88 pathway, which provides a scientific elucidation for the mechanisms of APS on the anti-hepatic fibrosis activity and presents a promising therapeutic approach for treating hepatic fibrosis.