Sulforaphane alleviates hepatocyte pyroptosis via activating Nrf2-HO-1 signaling during septic acute liver injury

Acute liver injury (ALI) caused by sepsis is a fatal disease with a high mortality rate and poor prognosis. Sulforaphane (SFN) is a natural isothiocyanate that has robust antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to identify the pharmacological effects and therapeutic mechanisms of SFN in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. Overall design: Male C57BL/6J mice (eight weeks old) were purchased from Gempharmatech (Nanjing, China) and maintained in a temperature-controlled room under a 12:12-h light–dark cycle for two weeks, with free access to tap water and standard mouse chow. The mice were randomly divided into three groups (n = 6 per group): Control, LPS and LPS + SFN. Mice were intraperitoneally administered SFN (10 mg/kg/day) for two days before LPS (10 mg/kg) treatment. All animals were sacrificed 24 h after LPS injection, and liver samples were collected with TRIzol.