Betaine inhibits Toll-like receptor 4 expression in rats with ethanol-induced liver injury

Table 1 Changes of weight and liver index in rats

Groups	n	Weight change(g)	Liver index (Liver wet weight/rats weight × 100)
Control	12	27.27 ± 1.55b	3.65 ± 0.22b
Model	8	18.44 ± 1.16	5.49 ± 0.34
Low dose betaine	12	19.38 ± 1.95	3.83 ± 0.14b
High dose betaine	12	19.34 ± 1.38	3.75 ± 0.68b

^bP < 0.01 compared with model group.

Table 2 Changes of liver function in rats

Groups	n	ALT (U/L)	AST (U/L)	ALB (g/L)	ALB/GLB
Control	12	59.47 ± 2.34b	116.89 ± 3.48b	38.1 ± 0.16	1.40 ± 0.34
Model	8	159.41 ± 7.74	248.25 ± 1.40	36.1 ± 1.22	1.55 ± 0.06
Low dose betaine	12	62.82 ± 7.78b	189.25 ± 5.9b	37.8 ± 2.36	1.50 ± 0.03
High dose betaine	12	64.93 ± 6.06b	188.73 ± 1.11b	36.4 ± 3.17	1.46 ± 0.12

^bP < 0.01 compared with model group. ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALB: Albumin; GLB: Globulin.

Table 3 Changes of rat serum endotoxin, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-18

Groups	n	Endotoxin (ng/L)	TNF-α (pg/mL)	INF-γ (pg/mL)	IL-18 (pg/mL)
Control	12	44.15 ± 7.54b	9.34 ± 2.57b	16.86 ± 9.49b	19.73 ± 9.31b
Model	8	135.37 ± 30.17	20.81 ± 8.58	30.18 ± 7.60	40.99 ± 8.25
Low dose betaine	12	87.36 ± 15.93b	12.61 ± 1.70b	22.63 ± 4.90b	26.51 ± 5.59b
High dose betaine	12	61.80 ± 12.56bd	9.79 ± 1.32bd	18.02 ± 5.96bd	18.23 ± 7.01bd

^bP < 0.01 compared with model group;

^dP < 0.01 compared with low dose betaine group. TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α; IL-10: Interleukin-10; IL-18: Interleukin-18; IFN-γ: Interferon-γ.

Table 4 Changes of TLR4 expression in rat liver tissues

Groups	n	TLR4 mRNA	TLR4 protein
Control	12	0.44 ± 0.04b	0.56 ± 0.08b
Model	8	1.45 ± 0.07	1.83 ± 0.13
Low dose betaine	12	0.73 ± 0.05b	0.81 ± 0.09b
High dose betaine	12	0.62 ± 0.04bd	0.65 ± 0.06bd

^bP < 0.01 compared with model group;

^dP < 0.01 compared with low dose betaine group. TLR 4: Toll-like receptor 4.