Partially hydrolyzed guar gum attenuates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice through the gut-liver axis

Figure 1 Effects of partially hydrolyzed guar gum on the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease model. A: Representative macroscopic findings in the liver. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was induced in mice subjected to the atherogenic diet with increased intestinal permeability for 8 wk; B: Representative histological findings in the liver. Magnification, × 100. Hematoxylin and eosin staining; C: Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. The liver was homogenized and MPO activity was determined as an index of neutrophil accumulation in the liver. Data represent the mean ± SD of seven mice. ^aP < 0.05 significant differences compared to the control group; ^bP < 0.05 significant differences between the 2 selected groups. NAFLD: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; PHGG: Partially hydrolyzed guar gum; MPO: Myeloperoxidase.

Figure 2 Effects of partially hydrolyzed guar gum on hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease model. A: Tumor necrosis factor-α; B: Monocyte chemotactic protein-1; C: Collagen 1a1; D: α smooth muscle actin mRNA expression in the liver. mRNA expression was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Data represent the mean ± SD of seven mice. ^aP < 0.05 significant differences compared to the control group; ^bP < 0.05 significant differences between the 2 selected groups. NAFLD: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; PHGG: Partially hydrolyzed guar gum; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-α; MCP-1: Monocyte chemotactic protein-1; αSMA: α smooth muscle actin.

Figure 3 Effects of partially hydrolyzed guar gum on lipid synthesis and degradation in the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease model. A: Acetyl-CoA carboxylase; B: Carnitine O-palmitoyltransferase II; C: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α; D: PPARγ mRNA expression in the liver. mRNA expression was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Data represent the mean ± SD of seven mice. ^aP < 0.05 significant differences compared to the control group. NAFLD: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; PHGG: Partially hydrolyzed guar gum; ACC: Acetyl-CoA carboxylase; PPAR: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor; CPT2: Carnitine O-palmitoyltransferase II.

Figure 4 Effects of partially hydrolyzed guar gum on toll-like receptor signaling through the gut-liver axis. A: Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 mRNA expression; B: TLR9 mRNA expression in the liver. mRNA expression was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction; C: Endotoxin levels in the portal vein. Endotoxin levels were measured using the chromogenic Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Endotoxin Assay kit. Data represent the mean ± SD of seven mice. ^aP < 0.05 significant differences compared to the control group; ^bP < 0.05 significant differences between the 2 selected groups. NAFLD: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; PHGG: Partially hydrolyzed guar gum; TLR: Toll-like receptor.

Figure 5 Effects of partially hydrolyzed guar gum on intestinal permeability in the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease model. Lumen-to-blood clearance of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated dextran was evaluated by injection into the duodenum and collection of blood after 60 min. Fluorescence intensity in the serum was measured with a spectrofluorometer. Data represent the mean ± SD of seven mice. ^aP < 0.05 significant differences compared to the control group; ^bP < 0.05 significant differences between the 2 selected groups. NAFLD: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; PHGG: Partially hydrolyzed guar gum.

Figure 6 Effects of partially hydrolyzed guar gum on cecal microbiota after administration. A: Percentage of the total identified sequences per group. Microbiota profiles in the cecal contents were analyzed using terminal restriction fragment-length polymorphism; B–E: Changes in the microbiota composition. Bars represent the mean ± SD of seven mice. ^aP < 0.05 significant differences compared to the control group. PHGG: Partially hydrolyzed guar gum.