Role of zinc finger protein 1 in rat liver fibrosis and as related to TGFb expression / 中华肝脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the role of zinc finger protein 1 (ZEB 1) in liver fibrosis and in regards to expression of the tumor growth factor-beta (TGFb) signaling factor using a rat model system.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal (control) group, liver fibrosis (model) group and a liver fibrosis + therapy (ZEB1 intervention) group. The model group and the ZEB1 intervention group were given intraperitoneal injections of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) for the first 3 days of each week over a 7-week period; starting at week 5, the ZEB 1 intervention group was started on a routine of every other day tail vein injections of recombinant ZEB1. During this 7-week period, the control group was given intraperitoneal injections of 0.9% NaC1 alone on the DMN schedule. Liver tissues were collected for pathological examination (with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining) and for detection of TGFb1 and ZEB 1 expression (by RT-PCR and western blotting). Measurement data were compared between groups using the single-factor analysis of variance test, followed by the least significant difference LSD test. Count data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The model group's liver tissues showed degeneration and necrosis, as well as obvious fibrous septa accompanied by pseudo lobules. The ZEB 1 intervention group's liver tissues showed a significantly higher degree of fibrosis (x²=21.63, P=0), with more coarse fiber cords. The expression of ZEB1 and TGFb1 was significantly higher in the model group than in the control group (both P less than 0.05). However, the ZEB 1 intervention group showed the highest levels of ZEB 1 and TGFb1 expression (vs. model group, P less than 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ZEB 1 may promote the development of liver fibrosis in rats through a mechanism involving the TGFb/Smad signaling pathway.</p>