Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Ruanganyin on TGF-1/Smad Signaling Pathway in Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Hepatic Fibrosis of Rats / 浙江中医药大学学报

ABSTRACT

[Aim]To study the effects of Ruanganyin on TGF-1,Smad3,Smad7 expressions of the experimental hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats,and to explore its anti-fibrotic molecular mechanism.[Method] Forty healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group,vacant control group,CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis group,and Ruanganyin treated group.The rats in normal group were treated with normal saline by intragastrical irrigation,and the other groups were subcutaneous injected with CCl4 to establish hepatic fibrosis model.The histological changes of the liver tissues were examined by pathological examination.The protein expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-1) and Smad3,Smad7 were measured by immunohistochemical technique.[Result] In comparison with those inmodel group,the levels of TGF-1 were significantly decreased after treatment with Ruanganyin.Meanwhile,the levels of Smad3 was also down-regulated.However,the level of Smad7 expression was significantly up-regulated.The pathological changes of liver tissues in Ruanganyin groups were also markedly alleviated.[Conclusion] Ruanganyin has significant inhibitory effects on CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats,and its mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of TGF-1 expression,down-regulation of Smad3 expression and up-regulation of Smad7 expression.