Effect of aplysin on plasma endotoxin levels, intestinal mucosal barrier function and cytokines.

<p>A) The level of plasma endotoxin in rats. B) The level of plasma DAO in rats. C) The level of plasma D-LA in rats. D) The level of plasma FABP2 in rats. E) The levels of serum TNF-α, TGF-β and IL-1β in rats. F) The levels of serum IL-6 and IL-10 in rats. The levels of plasma endotoxin, DAO, D-LA and FABP2 in the alcohol model group were higher than those in the control group. After aplysin intervention, endotoxin, DAO, D-LA and FABP2 levels were reduced compared with those of the alcohol model group. Alcohol administration elevated the levels of serum TNF-α and TGF-β and reduced the level of IL-10 compared with those of control rats. These alcohol-induced effects could be reversed with aplysin treatment. IL-1β and TNF-α levels in the aplysin group were decreased, and the level of IL-10 was increased. *<i>P</i>< 0.05 vs Control; ^#<i>P</i>< 0.05 vs Model.</p

Correlation analysis between gut microbiota composition and enzymology indexes of liver function.

<p>Correlation analysis between gut microbiota composition and enzymology indexes of liver function.</p

Liver histopathology and liver function changes in rats.

<p>A) Liver histopathology in rats with ethanol-induced histological changes (Magnification, ×400). The control group showed structural intactness and normal architecture. The ethanol model group showed lipid droplet accumulation (arrow 1), inflammatory cell infiltration (arrow 2), microvesicular steatosis (arrow 3) and Mallory body (arrow 4). The aplysin intervention group showed almost normal architecture. B) Hepatic ultrastructure in transmission electron microscopy (Magnification, ×20000). Hepatocytes in the control group were in good condition with little droplet fat. However, in the ethanol model group, hepatic cells showed irregular shape with increased droplet fat; the nuclear membrane was irregular or fuzzy; the mitochondria became swollen and deformed; lysosomes increased; and the ridge structure was fuzzy. In the aplysin intervention group, the morphology of hepatic cells was normal. Arrow 1: Lysosome; arrow 2: endoplasmic reticulum; arrow 3: Lipid droplet. C) The effect of aplysin on the liver pathology score in rats. The liver pathological score in the alcohol model group was significantly increased compared with that of control group rats. The liver pathology score in aplysin intervention group rats was better than that of the alcohol model group. D) The levels of serum ALT, AST and ALP. ELISA data showed that the levels of serum ALT, AST and ALP in the ethanol model group were significantly increased compared with those of control rats, whereas the aplysin intervention decreased the levels of ALT, AST and ALP. E) The hepatic triglyceride level. The TG level of liver tissue in ethanol model group was increased compared with that of control rats, whereas the aplysin intervention decreased the level of hepatic TG. *<i>P</i>< 0.05 vs Control; ^#<i>P</i>< 0.05 vs Model.</p

Three-dimensional figure of the first three RDP distributions.

<p>PCoA (principal co-ordinates analysis) plot based on OTU abundance. Each point represents the fecal microbiota of rat. Samples with higher similarity in the diagram were gathered, whereas samples with lower similarity are farther in distance. C: control group; M: alcohol model group; A: aplysin intervention group.</p

The intestinal bacteria distribution of the representative bacterial species ( ± S).

<p>The intestinal bacteria distribution of the representative bacterial species ( ± S).</p

Correlation analysis between gut microbiota composition and the levels of plasma inflammatory factor.

<p>Correlation analysis between gut microbiota composition and the levels of plasma inflammatory factor.</p

Correlation analysis between gut microbiota composition and serum indexes of intestinal mucosal barrier function.

<p>Correlation analysis between gut microbiota composition and serum indexes of intestinal mucosal barrier function.</p

The bacterial composition of all the samples at the phylum level.

<p><b>]</b> At the phylum level, bacteria associated with 29 strains of nematodes were detected by 16S rDNA high throughput sequencing analysis. Bacteroidetes was the most predominant phylum, followed by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Each color represents one type of bacterial strain, and the area of the histogram of each color represents the number ratio of bacteria strains. C: control group; M: alcohol model group; A: aplysin intervention group.</p

Heat map of the top 15 genera in different groups.

<p>The genus abundance heat map was made with a species abundance matrix. Each column represents a sample, and each line represents the bacterial genus. The color block represents the relative abundance. Higher relative abundance was indicated by the colorred, and lower abundance was indicated by the color blue. C: control group; M: alcohol model group; A: aplysin intervention group.</p

ERIC-PCR fingerprint analysis of gut microbiota.

<p>ERIC-PCR analysis was used to analyze the microbial community structure of rats. The results indicated significant alterations in the gut microbiota of rats in the alcohol model group, with an obvious brand at 750 bp, which was not clear in the control and aplysin-treatment groups. M: DL2000 DNA Marker; 1–5: control group; 6–10: alcohol model group; 11–15: aplysin intervention group.</p