Gene expression profiles for apoptotic and necrotic pathways during Amanita phalloides intoxication in mice

Background and Aims: Amanita phalloides is the deadliest toxic mushroom in the world and causes death from acute liver failure. alpha-amanitin (alpha-AMA), the most potent toxin, inhibits RNA polymerase II in hepatocytes, stops protein synthesis, and causes hepatotoxicity. However, the information about the mechanisms underlying hepatotoxicity caused by alpha-AMA is quite inadequate. This study aims to reveal the complex necrotic and apoptotic mechanisms occurring in mouse hepatocytes de-pending on A. phalloides exposure time in vivo.Methods: BALB-c male mice were divided into 5 groups (n=7): control, alpha-AMA-2, alpha-AMA-12, alpha-AMA-72, and alpha-AMA-96 groups. A poisoning model was created by oral administration of A. phalloides mushroom extract containing 10 mg/kg of alpha-AMA to mice and they were sacrificed after 2, 12, 72, and 96 h. Then, TNF-alpha, Bax, caspase-3, and Bcl-2 gene expression levels in liver tissues were examined by the RT-qPCR method. Time-dependent damage to liver tissues was also evaluated histopathologically.Results: RT-qPCR results showed that proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha mRNA expression levels increased in mouse liver tissues at 2 and 12 h afterA. phalloides administration compared among the groups. BaxmRNA expression levels increased in the 12 and 72 h afterA. phalloides ingestion. It was observed that caspase-3 mRNA expression levels increased in the 72 and 96 h groups compared among the groups, while Bcl-2 mRNA expression levels decreased in the 72 and 96 h groups.Conclusion: Our findings showed that necrotic mechanisms develop in the early period afterA. phalloides mushroom poison-ing, and then apoptotic mechanisms are effective. In conclusion, understanding the mechanisms of A. phalloides-induced hepatotoxicity will provide important information for new treatment strategies to be developed.