ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Biliary cirrhosis (BC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease, in which hepatic fibrosis is an early symptom. This study aimed to identify the biological function and the therapeutic effect of a Chinese traditional medicine, HuaGanTongLuoFang (HGTLF), in a mouse model of BC. METHODS: The mice (n = 72) were randomly divided into a sham group (n =12) and BC group (n = 60). The animals in the BC group were then randomly divided into five groups (n = 12 in each) and treated with three different doses of HGTLF, ureodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), or normal saline (the model group). Four weeks later, serum and liver tissues were obtained from all the animals for analyses. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to quantify the hepatic morphology, while real-time PCR and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to determine the level of hepatic fibrosis-related genes. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, all three doses of HGTLF improved hepatic function, as well as reducing inflammation and fibrogenesis. The best therapeutic effect was observed in the high-dose HGTLF group. Furthermore, HGTLF contributed to down-regulation of hepatic fibrosis-related genes (platelet-derived growth factor [PDGF], transforming growth factor-ß [TGF-ß], p38, nuclear factor-κB [NF-kB], intercellular adhesion molecular-1 [ICAM-1], and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 [TIMP-1]). CONCLUSION: The data suggested that HGTLF effectively improved liver function and the morphology of the liver tissue in a mouse model of BC, possibly via suppression of hepatic fibrosis-related signals.
Subject(s)
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use , Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary/drug therapy , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Down-Regulation/drug effects , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/analysis , Liver/metabolism , Liver/physiology , Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary/metabolism , Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary/pathology , Male , Mice , NF-kappa B/genetics , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Platelet-Derived Growth Factor/genetics , Platelet-Derived Growth Factor/metabolism , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1/analysis , Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics , Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolismABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Liver fibrosis is the response of liver diseases that puzzles patients. MiRNAs were involved in the regulating processes of liver fibrosis. This study aims to investigate the effects of ARRB1 mediated by miR-29a and miR-652 on liver fibrosis and its possible mechanism. METHODS: Liver fibrosis of mice was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4. Liver function was observed by the levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). Flow cytometry was used to detect the percent of T helper17 (Th17). ELISA (Enzyme linked immunoassay) was used to detect the levels of Interleukin-17 (IL-17) and Interleukin-22 (IL-22). Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of IL-17A, IL-22, miR-29a, miR-652 and ß-Arrestin 1 Gene (ARRB1). Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of ARRB1. RESULTS: CCl4 supplementation significantly increased the level of ALT and AST, the percent of Th17, the level of IL-17A, IL-22, miR-29a and miR-652, but decreased ARRB1. Overexpression of miR-29a/miR-652 prominently decreased Th17, IL-17A, IL-22 and ARRB1 in the normal CD4+ T cells. Both miR-29a and miR-652 targeted ARRB1 to regulate its expression. The effects of miR-29a/miR-652 overexpression on CD4+ T cells were reversed by ARRB1 overexpression. In vivo experiments demonstrated the protective role of miR-29a/miR-652 overexpression on liver fibrosis. CONCLUSION: ARRB1 mediated by miR-29a and miR-652 probably involved in the CD4+ T cells differentiation in patients with liver fibrosis, and functioned as a biomarker of fibrosis liver.Key words: liver fibrosis, miR-29a, miR-652, ARRB1, CD4+ T cells.
Subject(s)
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/cytology , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , Cell Differentiation/drug effects , Liver Cirrhosis/drug therapy , MicroRNAs/genetics , Animals , Carbon Tetrachloride , Cell Differentiation/genetics , Cells, Cultured , Liver Cirrhosis/chemically induced , Liver Cirrhosis/genetics , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , MicroRNAs/pharmacologyABSTRACT
The aim of the current investigation was to evaluate the anti-fibrosis potential of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) and further to explore some of its underlying mechanisms. Hepatic fibrosis mice model was induced by CCl4. Liver function parameters in serum and fibrosis-associated markers in tissues were detected. Moreover, SB-431542, an anti-TGFß-1 receptor inhibitor, was employed in vitro to reveal the underlying mechanism of TGFß-1/Smad pathway on hUC-MSCs against liver fibrosis. In the present study, we illustrated that hUC-MSCs could differentiate into osteogenic, adipogenic, and cartilage. Liver fibrosis was attenuated with hUC-MSCs treatment, determined by reductions of AST, ALT. and fibrosis area, along with some critical parameters including TGFß-1, α-SMA, and TIMP-1. However, TGFß-1 receptor antagonist SB-431542 reduced the paracrine TGFß-1 expression of hUC-MSCs and blunted the activation of downstream target genes. Furthermore, the restrained hUC-MSCs proliferation and migration induced by SB-431542 could be reversed by si-TGFß-1. These results demonstrated that TGFß-1 receptor inhibitor improved the repair potential of hUC-MSCs against hepatic injury through TGFß-1/Smad pathway, which contributed to improving the therapeutic efficiency of liver fibrosis.
