ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate whether the interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene therapy has the effect of anti liver fibrosis in mice and its mechanism.Methods Liver fibrosis was induced by long-term thioacetamide administration in mice.Human IL-10 expression plasmid was delivered via electroporation after liver fibrosis was established.The immunohistochemistry was used to study the expression of IL-10 in liver.Sircol collagen determination method was used to detect the contents of collagen in the liver.The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expressions of liver fibrosis-related genes,including transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1),collagen α1,tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1),fibronectin,vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1),and matrix metalloproteinase-inhibiting factor (TIMP-1,TIMP-2).Results Immunohistochemical results showed IL-10 gene therapy reversed hepatic fibrosis.Sircol collagen assay showed that IL-10 gene therapy reduced the content of collagen fibers(P ＜ 0.05).RT-PCR revealed IL-10 gene therapy reduced liver TGF-β1,TNF-α,collagen α1,cell adhesion molecule,and TIMPs mRNA upregulation.Conclusions Electroporative IL-10 gene therapy might be an effective therapeutic reagent for liver fibrosis with potential future clinical applications.