Effect of Intermittent Fasting on Pyroptosis with Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis Induced by High Fat and High Cholesterol in Rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intermittent fasting on pyroptosis in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, high-fat and high-cholesterol-fed NASH model group and intermittent fasting group. Plasma and liver samples were collected to detect the activities of ALT, AST, TC and TG after 16 weeks. The pathological changes of liver were observed by HE and Masson staining. The expression of pyroptosis-related proteins and genes such as Caspase-1, GSDMD and IL-1β in liver tissues were detected by Western blot and qRT-PCR. Compared with the control group, hepatocyte steatosis and fiber deposition were observed in the NASH model group. Compared with the control group, the contents of ALT, AST, TC and TG in NASH model group were significantly increased, and the contents of proteins and genes of Caspase-1, GSDMD and IL-1β were significantly increased (P<0.05). By contrast with NASH model group, hepatocytes steatosis and fibrous deposition were visibly reduced in the intermittent fasting group. Different from the NASH model group, the contents of ALT, AST in plasma and TC and TG in liver of rats were significantly reduced, and the contents of proteins and genes of Caspase-1, GSDMD and IL-1β were decreased in the intermittent fasting group (P<0.05). Experimental investigation showed that intermittent fasting might alleviate the occurrence and development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by inhibiting hepatocyte pyroptosis mediated by Caspase-1, GSDMD and IL-1β.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2021.06.0015