Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a systemic condition that can also lead to extraintestinal complications, including liver damage. Disruptions in the gut–liver axis and inflammatory mediators play a key role in this process. Apelin, a peptide involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, has shown protective effects in the colon during IBD; however, its hepatic actions remain unclear, making it crucial to clarify its systemic impact on the gut–liver axis.
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of apelin-13 on liver injury associated with colitis using a trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis model. Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n = 8 per group): normal control (NC), ethanol control (EC), apelin (AP), colitis (TNB), and colitis + apelin (TNB+AP). Colitis was induced via intrarectal administration of TNBS (100 mg/kg in 50 % ethanol), and apelin-13 (150 µg/kg/day, i.p.) was administered for three days following induction.
Apelin-13 reduced colitis severity, by reducing weight loss, colon damage, and disease activity index (DAI), and improved intestinal barrier integrity by increasing zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) expression, thereby reducing portal tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels. However, apelin-13 did not prevent TNBS-induced hepatic inflammation or oxidative stress and, when administered alone, caused mild hepatocellular injury, with increased necrosis, TNF-α, malondialdehyde (MDA), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.
In conclusion, apelin-13 ameliorates colitis and modulates gut–liver axis signaling but fails to confer hepatic protection. This outcome suggests that gut-mediated benefits may be offset by mild hepatic stress caused by systemic apelin exposure, resulting in a neutral overall liver response. These findings emphasize that apelin-based interventions in IBD may require targeted delivery strategies to retain intestinal benefits while minimizing hepatic exposure.
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