Xing-Pi-Qing-Gan decoction alleviates alcoholic liver disease by down-regulating DDIT3 and restoring Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signaling: Multi-omics and experimental evidence

Figure 9 DDIT3 knocked-down confirms its role in Xing-Pi-Qing-Gan decoction -mediated protection. A: The effects of Xing-Pi-Qing-Gan decoction (XPQG) on alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and alkaline phosphatase expression in HepG2 cells as transfected with DDIT3 siRNA; B: After transfected with DDIT3 siRNA, XPQG had no obvious effect on the expression of superoxide dismutase and glutathione; C: Transcript levels of DDIT3 were measured by quantitative RT-PCR in HepG2 cells as transfected with DDIT3 siRNA; D: Relative mRNA levels of p38, Nrf2 and HO-1 in HepG2 cells as transfected with DDIT3 siRNA; E and F: Relative protein expression of DDIT3, p38, Nrf2 and HO-1 in HepG2 cells as transfected with DDIT3 siRNA; G: Effects of XPQG on the expression of inflammatory factors in HepG2 in HepG2 cells as transfected with DDIT3 siRNA; H: Relative mRNA levels of SREBP1-c and ACC in HepG2 cells as transfected with DDIT3 siRNA; I: Effects of XPQG on the expression of Apoptosis in HepG2 cells as transfected with DDIT3 siRNA (n = 3-5). ^aP < 0.01 vs si-DDIT3 group; ^bP < 0.01 vs negative control group; ^cP < 0.05 vs the si-DDIT3 group. ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; TG: Triglyceride; TC: Total cholesterol; AKP: Alkaline phosphatase; SOD: Superoxide dismutase; GSH: Glutathione; NC: Negative control; IL-6: Interleukin-6; EtOH: Ethanol-fed; XPQG: Xing-Pi-Qing-Gan decoction.