L-lysine supplementation attenuates experimental autoimmune hepatitis in a chronic murine model

Abstract

The incidence of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) has increased significantly worldwide. The present study aims to explore the protective effect of L-lysine supplementation against AIH and to investigate its potential underlying mechanisms. A chronic experimental AIH mouse model was established by repeated tail vein injection of human cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) plasmid. Starting from day 14 of the modeling, mice in the CYP2D6-AIH +L-lysine group were given 200 µl of purified water containing 10 mg/kg L-lysine by gavage until day27, once a day, and mice in the healthy control group and model group were given an equal volume of purified water by gavage. Our results showed that L-lysine supplementation partially reversed the liver injury mediated by CYP2D6 overexpression. These effects were consistent with the restraining impacts of L-lysine supplementation on decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines expression level and CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes infiltration, as well as curbing hepatic oxidative stress. Furthermore, L-lysine supplement relieved liver fibrosis in the context of AIH. In conclusion, L-lysine supplementation attenuates CYP2D6-induced immune liver injury in mice, which may serve as a novel nutrition support approach for AIH.