Dimethyl fumarate attenuates liver injury in a mouse model of cecal ligation and puncture by modulating inflammatory, angiogenic and pyroptotic pathways

Abstract Background Sepsis is a prevalent ailment that significantly affects hospitalized individuals around the globe. It is characterized by uncontrolled inflammatory responses resulting in organ injury and leading to high morbidity and mortality. The liver, a vital organ, is affected by sepsis, r...

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Main Authors: Heider Qassam, Ali M. Janabi, Karrar Kareem Gaen, Najah Rayish Hadi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40360-025-00968-2
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author Heider Qassam
Ali M. Janabi
Karrar Kareem Gaen
Najah Rayish Hadi
author_facet Heider Qassam
Ali M. Janabi
Karrar Kareem Gaen
Najah Rayish Hadi
author_sort Heider Qassam
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Sepsis is a prevalent ailment that significantly affects hospitalized individuals around the globe. It is characterized by uncontrolled inflammatory responses resulting in organ injury and leading to high morbidity and mortality. The liver, a vital organ, is affected by sepsis, resulting in liver dysfunction. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF), which is approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties through the inhibition of multiple inflammatory mediators. Hence, the present study aimed to assess the hepatoprotective potential of DMF against sepsis. Methods Four groups of mice (6 animals per group) were divided into a sham group, which was subjected to only anaesthesia and a midline abdominal incision; the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) group was anaesthetized and underwent an abdominal incision followed by the ligation of the cecum under the ileocecal valve and perforation twice with a needle; the vehicle group was given a solvent of DMF 1 h before the CLP, and the CLP group received 50 mg/kg of DMF via intraperitoneal (ip) injection 1 h before CLP. Following the procedure (24 h post-CLP), the mice were given unrestricted access to food and drink throughout the day. Serum was used to measure the levels of angiopoietin 2, AST and ALT. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to investigate the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, MIF, ICAM-1, F2-isoprostanes, VEGF, and caspase 11 in liver tissues. To evaluate the degree of liver damage, a biopsy of the liver was performed. Results The results revealed that mice exposed to CLP had high levels of AST and ALT in comparison with sham mice. Furthermore, levels of TNF-α, IL-6, MIF, ICAM-1, F2-isoprostanes, VEGF, and caspase 11 in liver tissues were also notably elevated as compared with sham mice. The levels of these parameters were significantly decreased in septic mice pre-treated with DMF. Mice with CLP showed a severe degree of liver damage as compared with sham mice. DMF pre-treatment mitigated liver injury. Conclusion This study suggests that DMF has hepatoprotective effects on septic mice via the modulation of inflammation, adhesion molecules, angiopoietin 2 and pyroptosis.
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spelling doaj-art-a6441e3b8eea470ebc3f8f990efb755b2025-08-20T04:03:11ZengBMCBMC Pharmacology and Toxicology2050-65112025-07-0126111210.1186/s40360-025-00968-2Dimethyl fumarate attenuates liver injury in a mouse model of cecal ligation and puncture by modulating inflammatory, angiogenic and pyroptotic pathwaysHeider Qassam0Ali M. Janabi1Karrar Kareem Gaen2Najah Rayish Hadi3Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of KufaDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of KufaDepartment of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of KufaDepartment of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of KufaAbstract Background Sepsis is a prevalent ailment that significantly affects hospitalized individuals around the globe. It is characterized by uncontrolled inflammatory responses resulting in organ injury and leading to high morbidity and mortality. The liver, a vital organ, is affected by sepsis, resulting in liver dysfunction. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF), which is approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties through the inhibition of multiple inflammatory mediators. Hence, the present study aimed to assess the hepatoprotective potential of DMF against sepsis. Methods Four groups of mice (6 animals per group) were divided into a sham group, which was subjected to only anaesthesia and a midline abdominal incision; the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) group was anaesthetized and underwent an abdominal incision followed by the ligation of the cecum under the ileocecal valve and perforation twice with a needle; the vehicle group was given a solvent of DMF 1 h before the CLP, and the CLP group received 50 mg/kg of DMF via intraperitoneal (ip) injection 1 h before CLP. Following the procedure (24 h post-CLP), the mice were given unrestricted access to food and drink throughout the day. Serum was used to measure the levels of angiopoietin 2, AST and ALT. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to investigate the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, MIF, ICAM-1, F2-isoprostanes, VEGF, and caspase 11 in liver tissues. To evaluate the degree of liver damage, a biopsy of the liver was performed. Results The results revealed that mice exposed to CLP had high levels of AST and ALT in comparison with sham mice. Furthermore, levels of TNF-α, IL-6, MIF, ICAM-1, F2-isoprostanes, VEGF, and caspase 11 in liver tissues were also notably elevated as compared with sham mice. The levels of these parameters were significantly decreased in septic mice pre-treated with DMF. Mice with CLP showed a severe degree of liver damage as compared with sham mice. DMF pre-treatment mitigated liver injury. Conclusion This study suggests that DMF has hepatoprotective effects on septic mice via the modulation of inflammation, adhesion molecules, angiopoietin 2 and pyroptosis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40360-025-00968-2EndotoxaemiaSepsisCLPHepatoprotectiveOxidative stressVEGF
spellingShingle Heider Qassam
Ali M. Janabi
Karrar Kareem Gaen
Najah Rayish Hadi
Dimethyl fumarate attenuates liver injury in a mouse model of cecal ligation and puncture by modulating inflammatory, angiogenic and pyroptotic pathways
BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology
Endotoxaemia
Sepsis
CLP
Hepatoprotective
Oxidative stress
VEGF
title Dimethyl fumarate attenuates liver injury in a mouse model of cecal ligation and puncture by modulating inflammatory, angiogenic and pyroptotic pathways
title_full Dimethyl fumarate attenuates liver injury in a mouse model of cecal ligation and puncture by modulating inflammatory, angiogenic and pyroptotic pathways
title_fullStr Dimethyl fumarate attenuates liver injury in a mouse model of cecal ligation and puncture by modulating inflammatory, angiogenic and pyroptotic pathways
title_full_unstemmed Dimethyl fumarate attenuates liver injury in a mouse model of cecal ligation and puncture by modulating inflammatory, angiogenic and pyroptotic pathways
title_short Dimethyl fumarate attenuates liver injury in a mouse model of cecal ligation and puncture by modulating inflammatory, angiogenic and pyroptotic pathways
title_sort dimethyl fumarate attenuates liver injury in a mouse model of cecal ligation and puncture by modulating inflammatory angiogenic and pyroptotic pathways
topic Endotoxaemia
Sepsis
CLP
Hepatoprotective
Oxidative stress
VEGF
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40360-025-00968-2
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AT karrarkareemgaen dimethylfumarateattenuatesliverinjuryinamousemodelofcecalligationandpuncturebymodulatinginflammatoryangiogenicandpyroptoticpathways
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