Liver protein spectrum in a rat liver injury model

This study aimed to identify the potential key proteins associated with liver injury based on the established rat model. The rat liver injury model was established using the method of pyloric ligation and then was confirmed by determination of serum enzymes and bilirubins as well as liver glutathione peroxidase and liver index. The protein spectrum of liver samples was analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system. Subsequently, the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between the model rats and controls were identified, and their potential functions and interactions were further analyzed. The rat liver injury model was successfully established. According to the analysis of liver protein spectrum, a total of 147 DEPs were identified, including 80 upregulated and 67 downregulated DEPs in the model group. In the PPI network, upregulated Stat 3 which had the highest degree interacted with multiple upregulated proteins, such as Junb, Fgg, and Hmox1, as well as downregulated proteins like Serpina3c and Tgfb1i1. Furthermore, Stat3 and Hmox1 were predicted to be associated with immunity. The DEPs may play crucial roles in the liver injury. These results are expected to contribute to the diagnosis and therapy of liver injury.