# Intervention Potential of a Recombinant Tarim Red Deer HGF Protein in a Mouse Model of Alcoholic Liver Disease

## TL;DR

A recombinant protein from Tarim red deer HGF reduces liver damage in mice with alcoholic liver disease, suggesting potential for regenerative therapy.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel recombinant Tarim red deer HGF protein as a potential regenerative therapy for alcoholic liver disease.

## Key findings

- The recombinant HGF protein reduced liver injury markers like AST and ALT in mice.
- It decreased liver fat and triglyceride levels while increasing antioxidants in the liver.
- The protein enhanced liver cell proliferation and regeneration in the mouse model.

## Abstract

Alcoholic liver disease represents a significant health concern resulting from excessive alcohol consumption, impacting millions of individuals worldwide and leading to liver damage, inflammation, and even cancer. Current treatment options are limited, underscoring the necessity for novel therapeutic strategies. This study explores the potential of a recombinant Tarim red deer hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) protein as a regenerative therapy for alcoholic liver disease. The research involved the construction of a fusion protein derived from the HGF of Tarim red deer and the assessment of its effects in a mouse model of alcoholic liver disease. The findings indicate that the recombinant HGF protein markedly reduced liver damage by decreasing levels of liver injury markers, minimizing liver fat deposition, and enhancing liver cell regeneration. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of recombinant Tarim red deer HGF in the treatment of alcoholic liver disease, paving the way for future research and clinical applications.

This study investigates the recombinant Tarim red deer hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in a mouse model to develop an HGF/c-Met-based regenerative therapy for alcoholic liver disease. We constructed a recombinant HGF fusion protein and expressed and purified it in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was administered via intravenous injection to treat mice with alcoholic liver disease induced by chronic alcohol feeding followed by acute alcohol gavage (NIAAA model). The therapeutic effects were evaluated based on liver tissue histology and biochemical indicators. The recombinant Tarim red deer HGF protein successfully reduced serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in mice, increased serum albumin (ALB) levels, decreased hepatic steatosis and triglyceride (TG) levels, lowered hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and increased the levels of the antioxidants glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver. Additionally, it enhanced the proliferation capacity of liver cells, thereby promoting liver regeneration. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that recombinant Tarim red deer HGF effectively reduces liver damage in a mouse model of alcoholic liver disease.