Effects of decreased leptin expression on liver fibrosis / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of decreased leptin expression on liver fibrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The small interfering RNA, targeting leptin gene, was designed according to the secondary structure of leptin gene. The recombinant plasmids were encapsulated with lipofectamine and then injected into carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced rat liver fibrosis models. Leptin and I, III collage were detected by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mRNA and protein levels of leptin in the fibrotic liver transfected with leptin shRNA were significantly decreased compared with those in controls (P less than 0.01). The depositions of type I and type III collagens were also decreased (P less than 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Decreased leptin expression prevents liver fibrosis.</p>

Effects of antisense RNA of connective tissue growth factor expressing plasmid on rat liver fibrosis / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of antisense RNA of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) on rat liver fibrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Gene recombinant techniques were used to construct a rat antisense RNA of CTGF recombinant plasmid which could be expressed in eukaryotic cells. The recombinant plasmids were encapsulated with lipofectamine and then transducted into a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced rat liver fibrosis model. Expression of CTGF was assessed by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify type I and III collagens. HE stained liver slides were used for pathological study.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mRNA and protein expression of CTGF in the fibrotic liver transfected with antisense-CTGF were significantly decreased compared with those of the controls (P<0.01). The depositions of type I and type III collagens were also decreased (P<0.05). Antisense-CTGF also minimized the pathological fibrosis in the rat livers (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results demonstrate that the antisense RNA of CTGF recombinant plasmid has certain effects in preventing liver fibrosis and makes it a possible candidate for use in future gene therapy.</p>