The Effect of Thyme Oil and Thymol on Hepatic Gene Expression Levels in Rabbits with Induced Hepatic Lipidosis

Öz

Rabbits fed a high cholesterol diet (HCD) exhibit various physiopathologic features of hepatic lipidosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of thyme oil and thymol on inflammation-related hepatic gene expression levels in a HCD-induced hepatic lipidosis model. Male New Zealand rabbits were divided into 6 groups. These groups were; Standard rabbit chow, Standard rabbit chow + thymol, Standard rabbit chow + thyme oil, High cholesterol diet, High cholesterol diet + thymol, High cholesterol diet + thyme oil. Blood samples were collected at 0, 4, 8 and 11 weeks during the study. Total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels were analyzed. The mRNA expression levels of inflammation-related genes from liver tissue were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction method. The expression levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-17 and interferon gamma genes were lower, whereas the expression levels of IL-9, IL-13, IL-18 and RAR-related orphan receptor gamma genes were higher in rabbits fed with HCD compared to the normal diet group (p<0.05). Thymol increased T-box transcription factor, IL-4, IL-17 and IL-18 gene expression. Thyme oil increased GATA binding protein 3 and IL-18 gene expression. In conclusion, thymol and thyme oil suppressed the expression of some inflammation-related genes and upregulated the expression of others. It can be stated that thymol and thyme oil may have positive effects on the prevention or correction of the inflammatory process from the gene level in the hepatic lipidosis model induced by HCD.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Hepatic lipidosis
• High cholesterol diet
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Thyme oil
• Thymol

Hepatik Lipidozis Oluşturulan Tavşanlarda Kekik Yağı ve Timol’ün Hepatik Gen Ekspresyon Seviyelerine Etkisi

Öz

Yüksek kolesterol diyetiyle beslenen tavşanlar hepatik lipidozisin çeşitli fizyopatolojik özelliklerini gösterirler. Bu çalışmada, yüksek kolestrol diyeti ile indüklenmiş non-obez hepatik lipidozisin modelinde, kekik yağı ve timol’ün inflamasyonla ilişkili hepatik gen ekspresyon seviyeleri üzerine etkisinin araştırılması amaçlandı. Erkek Yeni Zelanda ırkı tavşanlar 6 gruba ayrıldı. Bu gruplar; Standart tavşan yemi, Standart tavşan yemi + timol, Standart tavşan yemi + kekik yağı, Yüksek kolesterol diyeti, Yüksek kolesterol diyeti + timol, Yüksek kolesterol diyeti + kekik yağı. Çalışma süresince 0., 4., 8. ve 11. haftalarda kan örnekleri alındı. Total kolesterol, yüksek yoğunluklu lipoprotein kolesterol, düşük yoğunluklu lipoprotein kolesterol ve trigliserit düzeyleri analiz edildi. Karaciğer dokusundan inflamasyonla ilişkili genlerin mRNA ekspresyon seviyleri gerçek zamanlı polimeraz zincir reaksiyonu yöntemiyle analiz edildi. Yüksek kolesterol diyetiyle beslenen tavşanlarda, normal diyet grubuna kıyasla interlökin-4 (IL-4), IL-17 ve interferon gama geninin ekspresyon seviyesi düşük, IL-9, IL-13, IL-18 ve RAR ile ilişkili orfan reseptör gama genlerinin ekspresyon seviyesinin yüksek olduğu belirlendi (p<0.05). Timol T-box transkripsiyon faktörü, IL-4, IL-17 ve IL-18 gen ekspresyonunu artırmıştır. Kekik yağı GATA bağlayıcı protein 3 ve IL-18 gen ekspresyonunu artırmıştır. Sonuç olarak, yüksek kolesterol diyeti ile oluşturulan non-obez hepatik lipidozisin modelinde, timol ve kekik yağının inflamasyonla ilişkili bazı genlerin ifade edilmesini baskıladığı, bazılarının ise ifade edilmesini upregüle ettiği görüldü. Bütün yönleriyle değerlendirildiğine, timol ve kekik yağının yüksek kolesterol diyeti ile tetiklenmiş non-alkolik yağlı karaciğer hastalığı modelinde gen düzeyinden itibaren yangısel sürecin önlenmesinde veya düzeltilmesinde olumlu yönde etkileri olabileceği ifade edilebilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Hepatik lipidozis
• Hiperkolesterolemi
• Kekik yağı
• Timol
• Yüksek kolesterol diyeti

Kaynakça

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