Placental growth factor silencing ameliorates liver fibrosis and angiogenesis and inhibits activation of hepatic stellate cells in a murine model of chronic liver disease.

Placental growth factor (PlGF) is a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family and is involved in pathological angiogenesis associated with chronic liver diseases. However, the precise mechanisms underlying PlGF signalling contributing to liver fibrosis and angiogenesis remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to assess the effect of reducing PlGF expression using small interfering RNA (siRNA) on experimental liver fibrosis and angiogenesis, and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Fibrosis was induced in mice by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) for 8 weeks, and mice were treated with PlGF siRNA or non-targeting control siRNA starting two weeks after initiating CCl4 injections. The results showed that PlGF was highly expressed in cirrhotic human and mice livers; which mainly distributed in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). PlGF silencing robustly reduced liver inflammation, fibrosis, intrahepatic macrophage recruitment, and inhibited the activation of HSCs in vivo. Moreover, PlGF siRNA-treated fibrotic mice showed diminished hepatic microvessel density and angiogenic factors, such as hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), VEGF and VEGF receptor-1. Moreover, down-regulation of PlGF with siRNA in HSCs inhibited the activation and proliferation of HSCs. Mechanistically, overexpression of PlGF in activated HSCs was induced by hypoxia dependent on HIF-1α, and PlGF induces HSC activation and proliferation via activation the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signalling pathways. These findings indicate that PlGF plays an important role in liver fibrosis-associated angiogenesis and that blockage of PlGF could be an effective strategy for chronic liver disease.

Quercetin Protects Mice from ConA-Induced Hepatitis by Inhibiting HMGB1-TLR Expression and Down-Regulating the Nuclear Factor Kappa B Pathway.

The dietary flavonoid quercetin has hepatoprotective effects. We analyzed the effects of quercetin on concanavalin A (ConA)-induced hepatitis in mice and its underlying molecular mechanisms of action. Mice were administered quercetin (50 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) or vehicle 30 min before intravenous administration of ConA. Quercetin pretreatment significantly reduced the ConA-induced elevations in plasma aminotransferase concentrations and liver necrosis, as well as reducing serum concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon-γ, and interleukin-4. Quercetin pretreatment also reduced expression of high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) and toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 and TLR-4 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein in liver tissues. Quercetin pretreatment significantly inhibited degradation of inhibitory kappa B alpha and modulated ConA-induced nuclear translocation in the liver of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65. These results demonstrate that quercetin protects against ConA-mediated hepatitis in mice by attenuating the HMGB1-TLRs-NF-κB signaling pathway.

Curcumin protects against concanavalin A-induced hepatitis in mice through inhibiting the cytoplasmic translocation and expression of high mobility group box 1.

The aims of this study were to examine the anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin on concanavalin A (ConA) induced hepatitis in mice, and to elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms. Mice received curcumin by gavage before ConA intravenous administration. The results showed that curcumin pretreatment attenuated ConA-induced hepatitis. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results showed that serum levels of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) increased at 4 h and reached its peak value at 12 h after challenge with ConA; but this increase was significantly inhibited by curcumin. Furthermore, curcumin significantly decreased the HMGB1 translocation from nucleus to cytoplasm of hepatocytes in ConA-induced mice. The levels of HMGB1 mRNA and protein expression in the liver were also significantly lowered in curcumin-treated mice. In addition, curcumin inhibited intrahepatic expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6 protein. In conclusion, the results indicated that curcumin protected against ConA-induced hepatitis in mice; and the beneficial effects may be partly through inhibition of HMGB1 translocation in hepatocytes, release into the plasma and expression in livers.

Inhibition by curcumin of multiple sites of the transforming growth factor-beta1 signalling pathway ameliorates the progression of liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats.

BACKGROUND: At present there is no effective and accepted therapy for hepatic fibrosis. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 signaling pathway contributes greatly to hepatic fibrosis. Reducing TGF-ß synthesis or inhibiting components of its complex signaling pathway represent important therapeutic targets. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of curcumin on liver fibrosis and whether curcumin attenuates the TGF-ß1 signaling pathway. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rat was induced liver fibrosis by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for six weeks together with or without curcumin, and hepatic histopathology and collagen content were employed to quantify liver necro-inflammation and fibrosis. Moreover, the mRNA and protein expression levels of TGF-ß1, Smad2, phosphorylated Smad2, Smad3, Smad7 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were determined by quantitative real time-PCR, Western blot, or immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Rats treated with curcumin improved liver necro-inflammation, and reduced liver fibrosis in association with decreased α-smooth muscle actin expression, and decreased collagen deposition. Furthermore, curcumin significantly attenuated expressions of TGFß1, Smad2, phosphorylated Smad2, Smad3, and CTGF and induced expression of the Smad7. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin significantly attenuated the severity of CCl4-induced liver inflammation and fibrosis through inhibition of TGF-ß1/Smad signalling pathway and CTGF expression. These data suggest that curcumin might be an effective antifibrotic drug in the prevention of liver disease progression.

Protective effects of curcumin against hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride: modulation of high-mobility group box 1, Toll-like receptor 4 and 2 expression.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of curcumin on the liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) in rats, and to elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms. Rats were administered with CCl(4) together with or without curcumin for 6 weeks. Hepatic damage was evaluated by analysis of liver function tests in serum. Hepatic histopathology and collagen content were employed to quantify liver fibrosis; and activated hepatic stellate cells were assessed. Moreover, the mRNA and protein expression levels of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), Toll like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4 were determined by quantitative real time PCR, Western blot or immunohistochemistry. Treatment with curcumin significantly attenuated CCl(4)-induce liver injury, hepatic inflammation and reduced the levels of proinflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-6 and MCP-1). Moreover, curcumin significantly inhibited extracellular matrix deposition, reduced the number of activated stellate cells, and decreased the levels of HMGB1, TLR4 and TLR2 expression in the rat model of fibrogenesis. These results suggest that curcumin could be an effective agent for preventing liver fibrosis and its mechanism may in part be a consequence of the reduction TLR2, TLR4 and HMGB1 expression.