Cortex Dictamni-induced hepatotoxicity by enhanced oxidative phosphorylation: Insights from integrative transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics analyses

Background

Cortex Dictamni (CD) is a traditional Chinese medicine that is commonly used to treat various skin diseases. Recently, clinical reports have highlighted its potential to induce severe hepatotoxicity. However, the underlying mechanisms of toxicity remain inadequately explored.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to elucidate the intrinsic mechanisms of CD-induced hepatotoxicity.

Study design

Hepatotoxicity was assessed in SD rats, and human primary hepatocytes (HPHs) and differentiated HepaRG (dHepaRG) cells were used for in vitro testing.

Methods

The major components of CD were determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). Rats were randomly divided into control, CD-high (CD-H), CD-middle (CD-M), CD-low (CD-L), and isoniazid (INH) groups and administered oral gavage for four weeks. Serum biochemical indices, histopathological changes, apoptotic markers, and liver function were evaluated to assess hepatotoxicity. A comprehensive analysis of rat liver samples was performed using transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches to identify key pathways involved in CD-induced hepatotoxicity. In vitro toxicity validation of CD was performed using HPHs and dHepaRG cells. The key pathway was validated in vivo and in vitro.

Results

CD primarily contained obacunone, fraxinellone, and dictamine. Administration of CD-H (9 times the maximum daily clinical dose in adults) and CD-M (3 times the maximum daily clinical dose in adults) for 4 weeks induced varying degrees of hepatotoxicity in rats. The CD-H group presented increased absolute and relative liver weights, reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and bile acid transporter levels, and increased albumin (ALB) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 levels, indicating significant hepatotoxicity in rats. Integrated multiomics analysis revealed that NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) Fe-S protein 2 (Ndufs2) is a critical regulator of CD-induced hepatotoxicity involving oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). CD inhibited the viability of HPHs and dHepaRG cells, demonstrating its significant cytotoxicity. Mechanistic validation revealed that CD upregulated Ndufs2, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial respiratory chain complex (MRCC) I, leading to nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway activation, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and hepatotoxicity.

Conclusion

In summary, our study presents a comprehensive picture of the toxicity of CD in terms of dose and sex and reveals, for the first time, the central role of Ndufs2-regulated OXPHOS in CD-induced hepatotoxicity.