Chicken biliary exosomes ameliorate lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatocyte injury

Investigate the protective effects of chicken bile-derived exosomes (CB-exos) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute hepatocyte injury. CB-exos were characterized by transmission electron microscopy observation and Western blotting. Subsequently, after 24 h of CB-exos treatment, the levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in the hepatocyte culture supernatant and chicken serum were measured using specific test kits. The morphology of hepatocytes was observed under a microscope. Additionally, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized to detect the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis-related proteins, and hepatocyte growth factors. CB-exos exhibited a typical cup-shaped morphology with an average diameter 50-100 nm, and the exosomal marker Tsg-101 was successfully detected. Treatment with CB-exos significantly reduced the concentrations of ALT and AST in the supernatant and chicken serum. Microscopic examination revealed the emergence of newly divided hepatocyte clusters. In liver tissues, CB-exos effectively mitigated the inflammatory response, with areas previously affected by inflammation being replaced by regenerating hepatocytes. Furthermore, CB-exos significantly down-regulated the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS, caspase-3 and Bax in damaged hepatocytes and liver tissues. Conversely, the expression levels of the Bcl-2 and hepatocyte growth factors (HGF) were markedly increased. CB-exos possess the capacity to alleviate hepatocyte injury and promote cell division and regeneration.