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Abdel-Bakky, Helal, El-Sayed, Amin, Alqasoumi, Alhowail, Abdelmoti, and Saad: Loss of RAR-α and RXR-α and enhanced caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in N-acetyl-p-aminophenol-induced liver injury in mice is tissue factor dependent
Original Article

Korean J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 2021;25(5):385-393.

Published online: 1 September 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.2021.25.5.385

Loss of RAR-α and RXR-α and enhanced caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in N-acetyl-p-aminophenol-induced liver injury in mice is tissue factor dependent

Mohamed Sadek Abdel-Bakky1, 2, *, Gouda Kamel Helal1, 3, El-Sayed Mohamed El-Sayed1, Elham Amin4, 5, Abdulmajeed Alqasoumi6, Ahmad Alhowail2, Eman Sayed Said Abdelmoti2, 7, Ahmed Saad Saad8

1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt

2Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah 52471, Saudi Arabia

3Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heliopolis University, Cairo 11785, Egypt

4Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62514, Egypt

5Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah 52471, Saudi Arabia

6Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah 52471, Saudi Arabia

7Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum 63514, Egypt

8Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Port Said University, Port Said 42511, Egypt

*Correspondence Mohamed Sadek Abdel-Bakky, E-mail: abdelbakkym@yahoo.com

Received 21 September 2020       Revised 31 January 2021       Accepted 26 February 2021

Copyright © Korean J Physiol Pharmacol

(open-access):

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Tissue factor (TF) activates the coagulation system and has an important role in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Our previous study stated that retinoid receptors (RAR-α and RXR-α) are released as a lipid droplet in monocrotaline/lipopolysaccharide-induced idiosyncratic liver toxicity in mice. Herein, the interdependence between the release of retinoid receptors RAR-α and RXR-α and TF in N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP)-induced mice liver toxicity, is investigated. Serum alanine transaminase (ALT) level, platelet and white blood cells (WBCs) counts, protein expression of fibrin, TF, cyclin D1 and cleaved caspase-3 in liver tissues are analyzed. In addition, histopathological evaluation and survival study are also performed. The results indicate that using of TF-antisense (TF-AS) deoxyoligonucleotide (ODN) injection (6 mg/kg), to block TF protein synthesis, significantly restores the elevated level of ALT and WBCs and corrects thrombocytopenia in mice injected with APAP. TF-AS prevents the peri-central overexpression of liver TF, fibrin, cyclin D1 and cleaved caspase-3. The release of RXR-α and RAR-α droplets, in APAP treated sections, is inhibited upon treatment with TF-AS. In conclusion, the above findings designate that the released RXR-α and RAR-α in APAP liver toxicity is TF dependent. Additionally, the enhancement of cyclin D1 to caspase-3-dependent apoptosis can be prevented by blocking of TF protein synthesis.

Keywords: Acetaminophen, Retinoid A receptor alpha, Retinoid X receptor alpha, Thromboplastin, Tissue factor antisense

INTRODUCTION

Hepatic cells synthesize most of the coagulation factors, anticoagulants and constituents of the fibrinolytic system. Tissue factor (TF) is expressed on smooth muscle cells of blood vessels and activates coagulation system [1]. TF is constitutively expressed in blood vessels and its expression is induced in Kupffer cells and stellate cells [2,3]. Initiation of liver TF significantly increased coagulation and tissue injury and the use of anticoagulants have a protective effect against xenobiotics-induced liver toxicities [4,5]. Previous studies, demonstrated increased TF in different pathological conditions [6,7]. Similarly, our previous study indicated an increased TF expression in monocrotaline/lipopolysaccharide (MCT/LPS)-induced idiosyncratic liver toxicity in mice [8].
Retinoids are essential for cell proliferation, differentiation, reproduction, normal immune system and vision [6]. Retinoic acid (RA) Signaling is controlled by DNA binding of homodimer (RXR-RXR) or heterodimer (RAR-RXR) to RA response element RXRE or RARE, respectively [9]. This facilitates transcription of certain genes that regulate cellular apoptosis, differentiation and proliferation [10].
Clinically, RAR agonists are successfully used in the treatment of psoriasis and cancers and experimentally, RXR agonists possess hypoglycemic effect in type II diabetes [11]. Released RAR-α as speckled droplet has been found in vitro in activated hepatic stellate cell (HSC) [12]. The released lipid droplets of RXR-α and RAR-α by MCT/LPS-induced liver injury has been reported and indicated to be TF dependent [13]. Furthermore, both receptors have been confirmed to be released from the pericentral hepatocytes and HSCs as speckled droplets in thioacetamide-induced liver injury in mice [14].
The present study aims to investigate the possible release of RXR-α and RAR-α as speckled lipid droplets in liver toxicity induced by N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP) in mice. In addition, the interdependence between RXR-α, RAR-α and TF will also be clarified. Furthermore, the role of cell cycle-apoptotic marker, caspase-3 and cyclin D1, during liver toxicity induced by APAP in mice will also be explored.

METHODS

Animals and experimental design

Male Swiss albino mice, 20–25 g weight and 5 weeks age, were used. Mice were allowed standard fed and access to water ad libitum. Mice were acclimatized for one week in a cyle of light/dark, 12 h each. Mice were classified into four groups (8 mice each); control group received saline (0.2 ml/animal, i.p.), APAP group treated with a single dose of (APAP, 800 mg/kg, i.p.). The other two groups were injected with TF-antisense (TF-AS) or scrambled TF (TF-SC) deoxyoligonuclutides, ODNs (6 mg/kg ODNs, i.v. in 100 µl saline in a single dose 3.5 h prior APAP treatment) [15]. Mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation, 24 h after APAP injection and liver tissue samples and blood were collected. Liver tissue samples were handled using standard histopathological, immunofluorescence, biochemical procedures. All processes related to animal maintenance, sampling and treatments were in accordance with Al-Azhar laboratory research ethical committee (AZR-19-0143).

Chemicals and antibodies

APAP, chemiluminescent peroxidase substrate kit and HRP-conjugated goat IgG secondary antibody were provided from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). Rabbit polyclonal RXR-α, RAR-α antibodies and TF Rabbit polyclonal were purchased from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Santa Cruz, CA, USA). Rabbit polyclonal antibody for fibrin was purchased from Dako (Carpinteria, CA, USA). TF mouse monoclonal antibody was provided from Thermo Scientific Pierce (Rockford, IL, USA). Cleaved caspase-3 and cyclin D1 rabbit monoclonal antibody were obtained from cell signaling technology (Leiden, Netherlands). Alexa fluor 488 goat anti-mouse and was obtained from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA, USA). Cy3 goat anti-rabbit was obtained from Jackson Immunoresearch (West Grove, PA, USA).

ODNs of tissue factor

Antisense and scrambled ODNs for TF were purchased from integrated DNA technologies (Integrated DNA technologies, Coralville, IA, USA). The used sequences in the current study, mouse TF antisense and scrambled ODNs, are as the follow: TF-SC, 5`-TGACGCAGAGTCGTA-3`; TF-AS, 5`-CATGGGGATAGCCAT-3`.

Histopathology and liver tissue samples

Sections of the livers were immerged in Davidson's fixing solution for one day then transferred to 70% ethyl alcohol, subsequently, dehydrated in gradient ethanol concentrations, defatted by xylene and embedded in paraffin. After that, sections were cut to 4 µm thickness and mounted on super-frosted slides.

Immunofluorescence technique

Liver slides were rehydrated by series of ethanol concentrations after being deparaffinized. The sections were the washed using 0.05% tween 80 in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at 7.4 pH. Tissues were boiled in microwave with DAKO solution, pH 6.0 for 15 min for antigen retrieval step. The sections were incubated with blocking buffer (10% horse in 1% BSA serum in PBS) for 1 h. The sections were then incubated with the suitable 1ry Ab at 37°C for 2 h and then at 4°C overnight. The slides were then washed with washing solution and incubated for 30 min with the suitable secondary Ab conjugated with goat anti-rabbit Cy3 or goat anti-mouse Alexa 488. The nucleus was stained with 1:5,000 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole in distilled water and then mounted by fluoromount. Captured figures were analyzed using fluorescence microscope (Leica DM 5500B; Leica Biosystems Inc., Buffalo Grove, IL, USA) and image j software (NIH). The florescence intensity was assessed by measuring its mean reading for three to six fields per section for at least 6 mice per each study group using Imagej/NIH software and confirmed by the microscope software.

Protein extraction and Western blot analyses

In the current work, we performed extraction of the protein and Western blotting analysis. In brief, we used the buffer, Prep protein extraction (catalog #163-2086; Bio-Rad Inc., Hercules, CA, USA) for lysing liver tissue samples of the different groups. Tissue sample lysates was separated and the concentrations of the protein were measured by using Bradford protein assay kit. A 20 µg protein from each sample was mixed with Laemmli sample buffer (loading buffer) and run through 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gels. Blotting to a nitrocellulose membrane (Millipore, Burlington, MA, USA) was performed the gels. The nitrocellulose membrane containing proteins was incubated with polyclonal rabbit TF antibody and after washing with tween-20/PBS, the membrane was incubated with HRP-conjugated goat IgG secondary antibody. Proteins were then visualized by using an enhanced chemiluminescent kit. For equal loading confirmation, membrane was re-incubated with beta actin antibody.

Statistical analysis

Data were presented in mean ± standard deviation of mean (SD) using Graph Pad Prism 6 software. For comparison between groups, one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used and Tukey-Kramer for multiple comparisons at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Effect of APAP in the presence or absence of ODNs on hematological and blood chemistry parameters

Fig. 1 and Table 1 show that injection of 800 mg/kg single dose of APAP (i.p.) causes significant increase in serum alanine transaminase (ALT), count of white blood cells (WBCs) and thrombocytopenia in comparison with the vehicle treated (control) group. No significant change is recorded between APAP treated mice or APAP + TF-SC treated group concerning ALT level and WBCs and platelets counts. In contrast, administration of TF-AS before APAP ameliorates the changes in ALT level and WBCs and platelets counts when compared to APAP-treated and APAP + TF-SC groups (Fig. 1A and Table 1).

Effect of APAP with or without ODNs co-treatment on TF and fibrin proteins expression

TF and fibrin proteins show constitutive expression in the sinusoidal area in the pericentral zone in control group (Figs. 1B–E and 2). Injecting the animals with APAP significantly increased TF and fibrin proteins in hepatocyte cells around the central veins. Group treated with APAP + TF-AS demonstrate decreased expression of TF and fibrin, increased by APAP alone. APAP + TF-SC treated mice show non significant change of TF or fibrin compared to APAP-injected mice (Figs. 1 and 2, respectively).

Effect of APAP with or without ODNs co-treatment on RAR-α and RXR-α proteins expression

Immunofluorescence staining revealed a constitutive expression of RAR-α and RXR-α in the pericentral area in vehicle treated group. Additionally, animals treated with APAP and APAP + TF-SC show a scattered expression of both RXR-α and RAR-α in the pericentral zone (as indicated by arrows). Animals injected with TF-AS in the presence of APAP display marked decrease in RXR-α and RAR-α expression around CV (Fig. 3A–D, respectively).

Effect of APAP with or without ODNs co-treatment on cyclin D1 and cleaved caspase-3 proteins expression

Normal mice sections show basal expression of cyclin D1 and cleaved caspase-3. An increased deposition of both proteins predominantly around the CV occurs, 24 h after APAP injection, upon comparison with control group. Cyclin D1and cleaved caspase-3 protein expression is strongly increased in APAP-treated, group mostly in the pericentral area. Similar expression pattern of liver cyclin D1 and cleaved caspase-3 occurs in group treated with APAP and TF-SC. No deposition of cyclin D1 and cleaved caspase-3 is observed in the tissues of APAP + TF-AS injected animals (Fig. 4A–D, respectively).

Effect of APAP in the presence or absence of ODNs on histopathological features

Histopathological evaluation of APAP, in the presence or absence of TF ODNs, treated groups is performed. APAP-treated mice displyed liver injury in the form of alteration of the normal liver architectures. They also show hemorrhage, necrosis, alteration of the sinusoidal architecture and fatty degeneration. APAP + TF-SC treated mice show similar pattern when compared with APAP treated mice. The alteration is more obvious in the pericentral area of the liver than the periportal zone. On the other hand, APAP + TF-AS treated animals demonstrate normal histopathological architectures (Fig. 5).

Effect of APAP with or without ODNs co-treatment on animal survivability

In the current study, the animal survival was analyzed in different groups over 4 days. Mice treated with APAP and APAP + TF-SC showed 60% survivability at the end of the experiment. Whereas, mice treated with APAP + TF-AS have 100% survival rate (10/10) (Fig. 6).

DISCUSSION

Several factors appear to play important roles in the liver toxicity induced by APAP such as alterations of the mitochondria, cytokines and reactive nitrogen species or reactive oxygen species [16,17]. Our results indicate that injection of mice with APAP induces liver toxicity; indicated by the significant elevation of serum ALT level and decreased blood platelet with elevated WBCs counts. Moreover, fibrin and TF protein expression is increased in hepatocytes around CV after APAP treatment.
Upon treatment with APAP, excessive WBCs contribute to liver inflammation and injury [18,19]. In addition, liver injury by co-treatment with MCT/LPS in mice lead to migration of platelets from the blood into the injured tissues and attaching fibrin, leading to thrombocytopenia accompanied with elevated WBCs count [15]. Additionally, an earlier report indicated a decreased protein C, plasma antithrombin concentrations and hepatic fibrin accumulation in mice treated with APAP [20]. Another study stated that, the cell surface protein, integrin, is expressed, in vitro, on platelets cell membrane facilitating fibrin binding and forms “cohesive strength” causing platelet to be aggregated with fibrin network [21]. Furthermore, APAP treatment causes elevation of TF in acute liver injured patients [22]. During vascular endothelial cell damage in liver, TF activates the coagulation extrinsic pathway and results in the development of fibrin network [22]. Accordingly, the occurrence of thrombocytopenia along with hypercoagulability in injured liver tissue (high expression of liver TF and fibrin expression) could be explained by the activation of coagulation system induced by APAP in the form of TF which lead to migration of the platelets from the blood into injured tissue causing thrombocytopenia.
HSCs are expressing RAR-α and RXR-α as confirmed by their co-localization with the HSCs marker, α SMA, using double immunofluorescence staining [13]. It has been documented that HSCs loses their vitamin A contents as lipid droplets upon its activation [23]. Moreover, up-regulation of RAR-α protein in activated cultured HSCs, as large insoluble speckled droplets, was seen [12]. Furthermore, retinoids regulate HSC differentiation through activation of RARs and/or RXRs and enhance expression of RAR-α and β that correlates with fibrosis induced by porcine serum [24]. However, no data were found discussing the correlation between the liver injury and loss of retinoid receptors (RXR-α or RAR-α) in APAP-induced liver injury. Abdel-Bakky et al. [13], described that MCT/LPS-induced liver toxicity increased the released lipid droplets containing RXR-α and RAR-α which depend on TF activation. Similarly, it has been established that thioacetamide liver toxicity is associated with loss RXR-α and RAR-α from the pericentral hepatocytes in mice [14]. In the same way, the present data indicate that RXR-α and RAR-α are lost from pericentral cells as lipid droplets after APAP injection in mice (Fig. 3).
APAP toxicity is associated with many common events including apoptosis [25]. The current results display that mice treated with APAP show significant increase in protein expression of cleaved caspase-3 around CV. Interestingly, a previous report showed the involvement of caspase-3 in APAP induced liver toxicity in mice [26]. Also, Wu et al. [27] revealed that increased caspase-3 expression in APAP treated mice was observed around CV. In addition, Irbesartan mitigated APAP-induced caspase-3 expression in mice model [28]. Similarly, Li et al. [29] showed that apoptosis, induced by activated HSCs, is characterized by increased caspase-3 in-vitro. Another significant finding is the increased cyclin D1 protein expression after APAP injection. Earlier study demonstrated that mice treated with lower dose, 300 mg/kg, of APAP increased expression of cyclin D1 while its expression was decreased after using large dose (600 mg/kg) [30]. Unlike the previous study, we used large dose of APAP (800 mg/kg) which resulted in an increased expression of cyclin D1 around the central vein. Increased hepatocytes cyclin D1 expression indicates that the cells are ready to DNA replication (G1/S phase transition) and completed G1 restriction point. It has been demonstrated earlier that Cyclin D1 enhances the “caspase-dependent apoptosis” controlled by the intrinsic pathway of the mitochondria [31]. Accordingly, our data support the concept that, increased cyclin D1expression may potentiate “caspase-3-dependent apoptosis” in APAP treated mice and that increased expression of cyclin D1 could be due to compensatory liver cell proliferation resulting from APAP injection. The current findings show that TF-AS injection efficiently decreases TF and fibrin proteins in the pericentral zone. Also it ameliorates abnormalities of ALT, WBCs and Platelets. In addition, it decreases cyclin D1 and caspase-3 protein expression in liver of mice treated by overdose of APAP and preventes release of RXR-α and RAR-α from pericentral cells. In conclusion, all the above mentioned abnormalities including, thrombocytopenia, pericentral fibrin deposition, enhanced “caspase-3-dependent apoptosis” by cyclin D1 and pericentral loss of RXR-α and RAR-α as lipid droplets in APAP-induced liver injury are TF dependent.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank all members of Pharmacology department, faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University for all supports during proceeding of research. Researchers would like to thank the Deanship of Scientific Research, Qassim University for funding publication of this project.

Notes

Author contributions: M.S.A. and A.S.S. conceived and designed the research. The mouse model and in vivo studies were carried out by A.S.S. Immunofluorescence analysis was conducted by M.S.A., A.A.6, and A.A.2 prepared figures and analyzed data. G.K.H. and E.M.E. supervised and coordinated the study. E.A. and E.S.S.A. performed western blot analysis. All authors edited and revised the manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Fig. 1

Serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and hepatic tissue factor (TF) expression in N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP)-treated mice in the presence or absence of TF deoxyoligonucleotides (ODNs).

(A) Increased serum ALT in APAP treated group (800 mg/kg, single i.p. dose) significantly compared to control vehicle-treated mice (0.2 ml per mice, i.p.). APAP + TF-SC group (3.5 h prior to APAP injection in a dose of 6 mg/kg in 100 µl saline, i.v.) has no significant difference compared to APAP-treated mice. APAP + TF-AS (similar dose as TF-SC) reduced significantly serum ALT level compared to APAP treated mice. Data of the figure are represented as means ± SD. (B) TF protein expression is increased in hepatocytes (arrows) and hepatic stellate cells in the pericentral zone in APAP injected animals. No difference has been detected in APAP + TF-SC compared to APAP treated animals. Low level of expression is seen in APAP + TF-AS sections compared to APAP-treated group. CV, central vein (magnification 200X, scale bar 100 µm and 100X, scale bar 250 µm). (C) TF fluorescence intensity is blotted in bar chart. (D) Quantitative histogram of TF in green fluorescence measuring the intensity of six fields for at least six mice per group. (E) Western blot analysis of liver tissue samples from normal and APAP with or without TF ODNs using TF and β-actin Abs as an internal control (n = 3). Data in the figures are represented as mean ± SD. aSignificantly different from vehicle treated group. bSignificantly different from APAP-treated group using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey-Kramer test as multiple comparisons (p < 0.05).
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Fig. 2

Effect of N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP) treatment with or without tissue factor (TF) deoxyoligonucleotides (ODNs) on liver tissue expression of fibrin protein.

(A) Microscopic appearance of fibrin protein expression in APAP treated mice in the presence or absence of TF ODNs using immunofluorescence technique. Fibrin protein is increased in the liver of mice treated with APAP and APAP + TF-SC. However, APAP + TF-AS treated mice section showed lower fibrin protein expression compared to APAP treatment alone (arrows). CV, central vein (magnification 200×). (B) Histogram of green fluorescence intensity. (C) Figure of TF representing the quantitative fluorescence intensity of six fields per section for at least six mice per group. Data are represented as means ± SD. aSignificantly different from vehicle treated mice. bSignificantly different from APAP-treated mice using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey-Kramer test as multiple comparison at p < 0.05 (magnification 200×, scale bar 100 µm).
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Fig. 3

Protein expression of RXR-α and RAR-α in mice livers tissues treated with N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP) with or without tissue factor (TF) deoxyoligonucleotides (ODNs).

Control group showed basal level of RXR-α expression (arrows), APAP and APAP + TF-SC treated mice displaying an intense speckled RXR-α expression (arrows) around CV in liver. Mice injected with APAP + TF-AS showed normal RXR-α expression around CV (A). Quantitative fluorescence intensity of RXR-α using ImageJ software of six fields per section for at least six mice per group (B). Constitutive expression of RAR-α around central vein in control sections (arrows), APAP treated group and APAP + TF-SC treated mice showing an intense diffuse speckled expression of RAR-α (arrows) around CV. Normal RAR-α expression in tissues of animals injected with APAP + TF-AS (C). Fluorescence intensity of RAR-α using ImageJ software (D). aSignificantly different from vehicle treated mice, bSignificantly different from APAP-treated mice, cSignificantly different from APAP + TF-SC treated mice using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey-Kramer test as multiple comparison at p < 0.05. CV, central vein (magnification 400×, scale bar 50 µm).
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Fig. 4

Effect of N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP) treatment on cyclin D1 and cleaved caspase-3 (c Caspase-3) protein expression in the presence or absence of TF-SC and TF-AS.

Elevated level of cyclin D1 (arrows) (A) and cleaved caspase-3 (arrows) (C) protein expressions are mostly in the pericentral area in APAP treated animals compared to vehicle treated animals after 24 h. Normal, low, expression of cyclin D1 and cleaved caspase-3 in vehicle treated mice sections. Strong expression of both proteins is detected in hepatocytes around central vein in APAP and APAP + TF-SC-treated treated mice. Low expression of cyclin D1 and cleaved caspase-3 is seen in APAP + TF-AS injected mice. CV, central vein (magnification 200×, scale bar 100 µm). Fluorescence intensity of cyclin D1 (B) and cleaved caspase-3 (D) using ImageJ software (D) of six fields per section for at least six mice per group. aSignificantly different from vehicle treated mice, bSignificantly different from APAP-treated mice, cSignificantly different from APAP + TF-SC treated mice using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey-Kramer test as multiple comparison at p < 0.05.
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Fig. 5

Histological analysis of hepatic tissue sections from vehicle and N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP)-treated mice in the presence or absence of tissue factor (TF) deoxyoligonucleotides (ODNs).

Normal histologic features are seen in vehicle treated animals. However, APAP-injected and APAP + TF-SC mice sections displayed alteration in the general architectures in the form of ischemia, necrosis (black arrowheads), hemorrhage (long arrows), loss of sinusoidal architecture and fatty degeneration (yellow arrowheads). Whereas APAP + TF-AS treated mice showed normal tissue architectures (H&E, magnification 200×, scale bar 100 µm).
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Fig. 6

Effect of N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP) in the presence or absence of tissue factor (TF) deoxyoligonucleotides (ODNs) injection on the survival rate of mice.

Animal survivability was analyzed in mice treated with APAP with or without TF ODNs for four days. Mice treated with APAP alone exhibit 6 out of 10 were survived at the end of the experiment. Similarly, 60% of the animals were survived after 4 days of treatment in APAP + TF-SC. On the other hand, mice treated with APAP in the presence of TF-AS showed 100% survivability (p < 0.05). MCT/LPS, monocrotaline/lipopolysaccharide.
kjpp-25-5-385-f6.tif
Table 1
Effect of APAP in the presence or absence of TF ODNs (TF-SC and TF-AS) on WBCs and platelets count
Groups Parameters
WBCs (103/mm3) Platelets count (/mm3)
Control 5.33 ± 0.57 800.3 ± 44.30
APAP-treated 12.19a ± 2.34 547.3a ± 92.09
APAP + TF-SC 13.35a ± 1.96 552.3a ± 80.56
APAP + TF-AS 7.17b ± 0.655 730.3b ± 29.74

Data in the table are expressed as means ± standard deviation. APAP, N-acetyl-p-aminophenol; TF, tissue factor; ODN, deoxyoligonucleotide; WBC, white blood cells. aDifferent significantly from vehicle treated mice. bDifferent significantly from APAP + TF-SC-treated using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey-Kramer test as post ANOVA for multiple comparison (p < 0.05).

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