Antagonistic effect of the glycopeptide from zein on acute alcohol-induced liver injury in mice

Alcohol consumption increases the risk of liver disease. Here, the hepatoprotective effect of glycosylated zein peptides (GZPs) against acute alcohol-induced liver injury in mice was evaluated. GZPs were prepared by transglutaminase-induced D-glucosamine conjugation onto zein peptides. Compared with the alcohol model group, GZP (250 mg/kg·body weight) remarkably increased liver enzyme activities (including alcohol dehydrogenase, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, and endogenous antioxidant enzymes) and glutathione levels; decreased serum triacylglycerol, tumor necrosis factor-α, liver malonaldehyde, ROS, lipopolysaccharide, and cytochrome P450 2E1 levels; and significantly reversed pathological changes in liver tissues. GZP protected against alcohol-induced increases in mRNA expression levels of toll-like receptor 4, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, and fatty acid synthetase, and upregulated the mRNA expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2. Thus, GZP exhibited a significant protective effect against alcohol- induced acute liver injury through its accelerating alcohol metabolism, antisteatosis, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory responses.