Protective effects of NAC on the ethanol-induced Chang hepatocellular injury

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effects of N-acetylcysteine(NAC) on ethanol-induced Chang hepatocellular injury.

MethodsThe Chang hepatocytes were cultured in vitro, and divided into the control group, ethanol treatment group, and high, medium and low dose NAC protection groups.The cell survival rate of ethanol-induced hepatocellulars injury model by NAC pretreatment was determined, and the effects of aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and interleukin-6(IL-6) were evaluated.The protective effects of NAC on ethanol-induced Chang hepatocellular injury were analyzed.

ResultsAfter NAC pretreatment, the cell survival rate was higher than that of the ethanol-treated group(P < 0.05).The results of cell morphology showed that the cellular morphology in NAC intervention group was better than that in ethanol-treated group.The NAC pretreatment could significantly reduce the contents of TNF-α and IL-6 in cell supernatant, and levels of AST, ALT and ROS in cells(P < 0.05).

ConclusionsThe NAC intervention can alleviate the Chang hepatocellular injury induced by ethanol treatment in vitro, and reduce the levels of intracellular ROS and inflammatory factors.