Changes and Significance of Biological Molecules in Liver Tissue of Elderly Beagle Dogs / 胃肠病学

ABSTRACT

Background: Liver reserve function decreases with aging, and at the same time liver histomorphology is degenerated. The incidence and mortality rate of hepatic diseases in elderly people are higher than young people. Aims: To explore the changes and significance of biological molecules in liver tissue of elderly beagle dogs. Methods: Fifteen healthy beagle dogs were divided into young group and aged group. The contents of Bcl-2, Bax, TE, GSK-3, caspase-9, HA, LN, PCIII, Col and CYP1A2 were determined by ELISA. The content of GSH-Px was assessed by biochemical methods. mRNA and protein expressions of PDGF-B, TGF-β1, TGF-β3 were detected by fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Results: Compared with the young group, the contents of regeneration-related molecules Bcl-2, Bax, TE, caspase-9 were significantly increased in aged group (P<0.05), GSK-3 was significantly decreased (P=0.013). The activity of antioxidant molecule GSH-Px and hepatic drug metabolic enzyme CYP1A2 were significantly decreased in aged group than in young group (P=0.012, P=0.006). The contents of liver fibrosis molecules LN, PCIII were significantly increased in aged group than in young group (P<0.05), however, no significant difference in contents of HA and Col were found between the two groups. The mRNA and protein expressions of PDGF-B and TGF-β1 were significantly increased in aged group than in young group (P<0.05); mRNA expression of TGF-β3 was significantly increased (P=0.035), however, the protein expression was significantly decreased (P=0.004). Conclusions: There are a series of molecular biology changes, which are the basis of histomorphological changes in liver tissue of elderly, and its underlying clinical value are deserved to be further studied and developed.