Abstract
Objective(s): Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is strongly linked with insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes through various metabolic changes. The current study was designed to investigate the modulatory effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on metabolic and inflammatory changes activated during NAFLD.
Materials and Methods: Three doses of AgNPs (100, 150, and 200 mu g/kg/day for 4 weeks) were tested in a high-fat high carbohydrate diet (HFHCD) induced NAFLD model in rats.
Results: Sinificant (P<0.05) improvement in dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and insulin levels by AgNPs was observed and more notably in the group that received 200 mu g/kg/day AgNPs. Acute phase inflammatory protein C-reactive protein and monocytes chemoattractant protein-1 were significantly (P<0.05) lowered by AgNPs. Inline, lipid peroxidation and PDGF-beta levels were significantly (P<0.05) reduced in groups that received different doses of AgNPs. Furthermore, AgNPs especially in the large dose (200 mu g/kg/day) significantly decreased (P<0.05) the measured level of the inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) compared with the HFHCD group level.
Conclusion: Collectively, results propose the ability of AgNPs to modulate metabolic changes accompanying NAFLD through reducing lipid peroxidation and targeting inflammatory cytokines mediating insulin resistance.