Effect of WeiJia on carbon tetrachloride induced chronic liver injury

Comparative study on effect of mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells on treatment of experimental CCL4-induced liver fibrosis

BACKGROUND

We speculated impacts of BM-MSCs and UC-EPCs on reversal of hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Fifty adult rats were divided into five groups: control group, CCl4A group, CCl4B group, CCl4/BM-MSCs group and CCl4/UC-EPCs group. Blood samples were driven to measure concentration of albumin and ALT. Quantitative expression of HGF, TGF-β, MMP-2, and VEGF were assessed by PCR. Histological and immunohistochemistry examination of the liver tissue were performed.

RESULTS

There was elevating albumin (p < .05) and reducing ALT (p < .05) concentrations in groups treated with BM-MSCs and UC-EPCs compared to untreated CCL4A&B groups. UC-EPCs treated group have significantly higher MMP-2 and VEGF (p < .01) genes expression than BM-MSCs treated group. Furthermore, UC-EPCs were more valuable than BMMSCs in increasing gene expression of HGF (p < .05) and immunohistochemistry of α-SMA and Ki-67 (p < .01). BM-MSCs have significantly lower TGF-β (p < .00) compared to UC-EPCs.

CONCLUSION

This study highlighted on liver regeneration role of both UC-EPCs and BM-MSCs in liver fibrosis.

Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reverse Hepatic Fibrosis, Improved Vascularity, and Attenuate the Apoptosis in Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Hepatic Fibrosis Experimental Rats

Background: Liver fibrosis is a sequel of different chronic inflammatory diseases. The most effective treatment for end-stage liver fibrosis is liver transplantation; but the shortage of donor organs, immunological rejection, surgical complications, and high medical costs limit the transplantation. That’s why we are in argent need to develop new strategies in treatment.  Objectives: to evaluate the role of MSCs in regenerating liver cells and reverse hepatic fibrosis. Materials and Methods: 30 Animals were randomly divided into three groups (10 animals each): group 1: a negative control; group 2: induced liver fibrosis (pathological control).; group 3: induced liver fibrosis that received undifferentiated BM MSCs (3×106 cells/ml intraperitoneally/single dose); The extent of fibrosis, vascularization, and inflammation and hepatic cell apoptosis were evaluated together with assessment of liver functions. Results: The MSCs treated group showed significant improvement of liver functions, and attenuation of fibrosis histopathologicaly and down regulate the expression of TGF ß versus the induced fibrosis group. inflammatory marker(TNF,IL-6) were down regulated and vascularity was restored in MSCs treated group  compared to CCL4 induced fibrosis rats.  Conclusion: MSCs provide promising therapeutic agents in treatment of liver fibrosis.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Suppress TGF-β Release to Decrease α-SMA Expression in Ameliorating CCl4-Induced Liver Fibrosis

Introduction:

Liver fibrosis (LF) is the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM), produced by overactivated hepatic stellate cells, following prolonged transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) stimulation. The ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to improve LF has been reported. However, the mechanisms of MSCs to ameliorate LF through suppressing TGF-β and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) remains unclear.

Aim:

To investigate the effects of MSCs treatment on suppressing TGF-β levels and decreasing α-SMA expression in an LF model.

Methods:

In this study, wenty-four male Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneal (IP) with carbon tetrachloride (CCL4), twice weekly, for eight weeks, to induce LF. Rats were randomly assigned to six groups: Sham, Control, Sham-lo, Sham-hi, and MSC-treated groups, at doses of 1 x 10⁶ (T1) and 2x10⁶ (T2) cells. TGF-β levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), whereas α-SMA expression was determined by immunohistochemistry staining.

Results:

MSCs decreased the expression of TGF-β in T1 and T2 groups on day 3 and 14. The T2 group showed lower TGF-β levels than that in the T1 group. This finding was in line with the observed decrease in α-SMA expression and the number of collagen.

Conclusion:

MSCs treatment ameliorated LF by suppressing TGF-β production, leading to decreased α-SMA expression in a CCL4-induced LF animal model.

Effect of carvedilol versus propranolol on acute and chronic liver toxicity in rats

Non-selective β-blockers have largely been used for prophylaxis of bleeding from gastroesophageal varices, but their hepatic effects and their influence on the development of varices has yet to be clarified. This study examined whether carvedilol would reduce acute and chronic liver injury in rats in comparison to propranolol. Experiment (1) Investigated the effects of carvedilol (1.2 mg/kg) and propranolol (4.0 mg/kg) administered daily for 7 days by gavage on paracetamol (1500 mg/kg i.p.) -induced acute liver injury in rats. Experiment (2) Investigated the effects of carvedilol (1.2 mg/kg) and propranolol (4.0 mg/kg) by gavage daily for 8 weeks on CCl4 -induced chronic liver injury in rats. Biochemical markers and histopathology of the livers were studied. Liver perfusion studies were carried out on CCl4 treated rats. Experiment (1) Carvedilol significantly improved the functional state of the liver in paracetamol-induced acute toxic hepatitis to a greater extent than propranolol. This was evidenced by a greater reduction in elevated serum levels of ALT and AST, hepatic MDA and TNF-α, attenuation of the paracetamol-induced decrease in GSH, together with improvement in the histological architecture of the liver. Experiment (2) Carvedilol was superior to propranolol against CCl4-induced hepatic injury and fibrogenesis. It suppressed hepatic inflammation, attenuated hepatic oxidative stress, and inhibited HSC activation. Carvedilol also decreased portal perfusion pressure. These results suggest that carvedilol might be a therapeutic anti-fibrogenic candidate against hepatic fibrosis, protecting the liver from acute and chronic toxic injury, in addition to lowering portal pressure.

5-HMF Attenuates Liver Fibrosis in CCl4-Plus-Alcohol-Induced Mice by Suppression of Oxidative Stress

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (5-HMF) on liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) and alcohol. Male ICR mice were treated with CCl₄ dissolved in olive oil (10% v/v, 2.5 μg/L) intraperitoneally (i.p.), and given at a dose of 2.5×10^-5 mg/kg B.W. twice a week for 7 wk. Concurrently, mice received drinking water with or without alcohol. The mice in treatment groups and positive control group were gavaged with 5-HMF (7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg B.W.) or Huganpian (350 mg/kg B.W.) daily starting in the fourth week and lasting for 4 wk. The blood samples were analyzed for biochemical markers of hepatic injury and tissue samples were subjected for estimation of liver antioxidants and histopathological studies. The concentrations of HA (hyaluronic acid), LN (laminin), CIV (collagen type IV), and MDA (malondialdehyde), as well as the serum levels of ALT (alanine aminotransferase) and AST (aspartate aminotransferase) were markedly reduced by 5-HMF. On the other hand, enzymatic antioxidants SOD (superoxide dismutase), CAT (catalase) and GSH-Px (glutathione peroxidase) were markedly elevated in liver tissue treated with 5-HMF. Histopathological examination revealed that 5-HMF treatment noticeably prevented hepatocyte apoptosis, fatty degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration on liver fibrosis induced by CCl₄ and alcohol. Hoechst 33258 staining also revealed hepatocyte apoptosis. 5-HMF could exert protective effects against liver injury and reduce liver fibrosis induced by CCl₄ and alcohol in mice.

Protective effects of seed melon extract on CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Citrullus lanatus ssp. vulgaris var. megalaspermus Lin et Chao, was also known as watermelon belongs to family Cucurbitaceae, variously used as healthy food and in the treatment of liver and lungs problems. Currently, Citrullus lanatus has become a major economic crop of medicinal and edible effects with regional characteristics.

AIM

This study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of the seed melon (Citrullus lanatus ssp. vulgaris var. megalaspermus Lin et Chao) extract (SME) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced hepatic fibrosis in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, mice were randomly divided into 7 groups, including normal control, model, silymarin tablets as the positive control, SME 100, 200, 400, and 800mg/kg. After 8 weeks, activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglycerides (TG), hyaluronic acid (HA) and laminin (LN) were checked. The levels of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutataion (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were determined after SME administration. The hydroxyproline (HYP) levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and histopathologic examinations of hepatocyte fibrosis were also determined. Additionally, effects of SME on alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor beta-1(TGF-β1) protein expressions were determined.

RESULTS

We found that SME could significantly lower the serum levels of hepatic enzyme markers AST, ALT, HA and LN (P<0.01). Compared with the CCl₄-only treatment group, levels of hepatic SOD and GSH-Px were significantly increased, and the MDA levels were remarkably decreased in mice treated by SME at medium dose (400mg/kg) and high dose (800mg/kg) (P<0.01). A histological examination of the liver showed that lesions, including necrosis, lymphocyte infiltration and fatty degeneration, were partially healed by treatment with SME. The results of protein expressions studies displayed that SME could inhibit α-SMA and TGF-β1 protein expression (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

The present results suggested that protective effect of SME against CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis may rely on its effect on reducing oxidative stress and improving drug metabolizing enzyme activity in liver.

Mesenchymal stem cells: In vivo therapeutic application ameliorates carbon tetrachloride induced liver fibrosis in rats

BACKGROUND

Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus in the world with infection rate up to 60%, for which liver fibrosis or hepatic carcinoma is the final outcome. Stem cell therapy provides a new hope for hepatic repair instead of traditional treatment, liver transplantation, as it is safer, gives long term engraftment and avoid expensive immunosuppressive drugs and unexpected hazardous effects.

AIM

This work aimed at determining the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in hepatic repair as a new line of therapy for liver fibrosis.

METHODS

33 female albino rats were divided into three groups: Group I: 10 rats injected subcutaneously with olive oil, Group II: 13 rats injected with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and Group III: 10 rats injected with CCl4 then bone marrow derived MSC from male rats. Blood and liver tissue samples were taken from all rats for biochemical and histological study.

RESULTS

Liver functions for group II rats showed significant deterioration in response to CCl4 in addition to significant histological changes in liver lobules and portal areas. Those parameters tend to be normal in MSC-treated group. Group III rats revealed normalized liver function and histological picture. Meanwhile, most of the pathological lesions were still detected in rats of second group.

CONCLUSION

Undifferentiated MSCs have the ability to ameliorate CCl4 induced liver injury in albino rats in terms of liver functions and histological features. So, stem cell therapy can be considered clinically to offer a hope for patients suffering from liver fibrosis.

Inhibitory effect of gallic acid on CCl4-mediated liver fibrosis in mice

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gallic acid (GA) on liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group (group A), CCl4-induced liver injury control group (group B), and CCl4 induction with GA of low dose (5 mg/kg) and high dose (15 mg/kg) treatment group (group C and group D). GA was intra-gastric given for mice once a day after 2 weeks of CCl4 induction. Animals were killed at the eighth week. Degrees of fibrosis and collagen percentage were measured. Hyaluronic acid (HA), type IV collagen (cIV), malondialdehyde (MDA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) were determined. Expression of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) mRNA levels were examined by RT-PCR. Western blotting was carried out to evaluate the changes of MMP-2 protein. HE and VG stainings showed GA in a dose-dependent manner improved significantly the fibrosis condition in CCl4-injured mice (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Also, the concentrations of HA, cIV, and MDA, as well as the serum levels of ALT, AST, and γ-GT were markedly reduced by GA (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and decreases in MMP-2, TIMP-1 mRNA, and MMP-2 protein were observed as well (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). GA could exert protective effect on liver injury and reduce liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 in mice, which might be through the inhibition of hepatic stellate cell activity.

Role of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of CCL4 Induced Liver Fibrosis in Albino Rats: A Histological and Immunohistochemical Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Variety of pathological factors including viral hepatitis, alcohol and drug abuse, metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases and congenital abnormalities can cause hepatic injury. Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage liver diseases, however, it faces several difficulties. So the aim of the work is to evaluate the effect of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) on the liver structure in carbon tetra chloride CCL4 induced liver fibrosis in rats.

MATERIALS AND RESULTS

BM-MSCs were isolated and characterized from long bones of twenty male albino rats. Sixty female rats were divided into the following two groups: Group I; thirty rats which were the control group. Group II; thirty rats were injected intra-peritoneal (IP) by CCL4 twice weekly for four weeks and was further subdivided into the following three subgroups: Subgroup IIA (CCL4 alone); included ten rats which were sacrificed after this four weeks. Subgroup IIB (CCL4/MSCs); included ten rats which were IP injected by a single dose of BM-MSCs and were sacrificed after four weeks. Subgroup IIC (CCL4/recovery); included ten rats which were left for another four weeks without any intervention. Histological examination of liver specimens showed that CCl4 caused variable pathological changes with elevated liver enzymes. Injection of BM-MSCs revealed an improvement in the histological picture of the liver and its enzymatic profile. On the other hand, most of the pathological lesion were still detected in rats of recovery group.

CONCLUSIONS

BM-MSC could restore the liver structure and function in experimental model of liver fibrosis.

Review of experimental models for inducing hepatic cirrhosis by bile duct ligation and carbon tetrachloride injection

PURPOSE

To present a review about a comparative study of bile duct ligation versus carbon tetrachloride Injection for inducing experimental liver cirrhosis.

METHODS

This research was made through Medline/PubMed and SciELO web sites looking for papers on the content "induction of liver cirrhosis in rats". We have found 107 articles but only 30 were selected from 2004 to 2011.

RESULTS

The most common methods used for inducing liver cirrhosis in the rat were administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and bile duct ligation (BDL). CCl4 has induced cirrhosis from 36 hours to 18 weeks after injection and BDL from seven days to four weeks after surgery.

CONCLUSION

For a safer inducing cirrhosis method BDL is better than CCl4 because of the absence of toxicity for researches and shorter time for achieving it.

Correlation between anti-fibrotic effect of baicalin and serum cytokines in rat hepatic fibrosis

AIM: To investigate the correlation between the antifibrotic effect of baicalin and serum cytokine production in rat hepatic fibrosis.

METHODS: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into four groups: normal control group, model group, baicalin-treated group, and colchicine-treated group. Except for the normal control group, all rats in the other groups were administered with carbon tetrachloride to induce hepatic fibrosis. At the same time, the last two groups were also treated with baicalin or colchicine. At the end of the 8 wk, all animals were sacrificed. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 were measured. Liver index, hepatic hydroxyproline content and the degree of liver fibrosis were also evaluated.

RESULTS: The levels of ALT, AST and liver index in the baicalin-treated group were markedly lower than those in the model group (ALT: 143.88 ± 14.55 U/L vs 193.58 ± 24.35 U/L; AST: 263.66 ± 44.23 U/L vs 404.37 ± 68.29 U/L; liver index: 0.033 ± 0.005 vs 0.049 ± 0.009, P < 0.01). Baicalin therapy also significantly attenuated the degree of hepatic fibrosis, collagen area and collagen area percentage in liver tissue (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the levels of serum TGFβ1, TNF-α and IL-6 were strikingly reduced in the baicalin-treated group compared with the model group, while the production of IL-10 was up-regulated: (TGF-β1: 260.21 ± 31.01 pg/mL vs 375.49 ± 57.47 pg/mL; TNF-α: 193.40 ± 15.18 pg/mL vs 260.04 ± 37.70 pg/mL; IL-6: 339.87 ± 72.95 pg/mL vs 606.47 ± 130.73 pg/mL; IL-10: 506.22 ± 112.07 pg/mL vs 316.95 ± 62.74 pg/mL, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Baicalin shows certain therapeutic effects on hepatic fibrosis, probably by immunoregulating the imbalance between profibrotic and antifibrotic cytokines.

Relationship between anti-fibrotic effect of Panax notoginseng saponins and serum cytokines in rat hepatic fibrosis

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anti-fibrotic effect of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) and serum cytokines in rat hepatic fibrosis. Hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) was studied in animal models using SD rats. Liver index, serum alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured, respectively. Liver index and the degree of liver fibrosis were also determined. Our results showed that the levels of ALT, AST and liver index in PNS-treated group were markedly lower than those in model group. PNS therapy also significantly attenuated the degree of hepatic fibrosis, collagen area and collagen area percent in liver tissue. Furthermore, the levels of serum TGF-beta1, TNF-alpha and IL-6 were strikingly reduced in PNS-treated group compared with model group while the production of IL-10 was up-regulated. These findings demonstrate that PNS has certain therapeutic effects on hepatic fibrosis probably by immunoregulating the imbalance between pro-fibrotic and anti-fibrotic cytokines.

Improvement of induction method of non-alcoholic fatty liver model in rats

AIM: To establish a rapid rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver.

METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were averagely and randomly divide into group A, B and C, fed with normal diet, routine high-fat diet and routine high-fat diet plus sucrose, propylthiouracil, and sodium cholate, respectively. The general conditions and weight changes were dynamically observed for 5 wk, and then all the rats were killed. The pathological changes of liver tissues were observed by HE staining, and Sudan IV staining and electron microscopy were used to investigate the presence status of cytoplasmic lipid droplets in liver cells. The following indexes were compared between the three groups, including serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and tissue contents of TG and TC.

RESULTS: Starting from the fourth week, the weights of rats were significantly decreased in group A and C as compared with those in group B (249.63 ± 34.25, 241.88 ± 20.75 vs 275.38 ± 6.59, P < 0.05), but there was no marked difference between group A and C (P > 0.05). In the 5^th week, light microscopy showed a great number of fatty vacuoles in liver cells, and electron microscopy confirmed the presence of abundant lipid droplets. Different degrees of hepatic fatty degeneration (+~+++) was observed in group C (H = 13.36, P = 0.0003), but not in group A and B. The serum levels of TG, TC, ALT and MDA were markedly higher in group C than those in group A and B (TG: 1.28 ± 0.61 mmol/L vs 0.72 ± 0.12, 0.76 ± 0.04 mmol/L; TC: 12.78 ± 1.47 mmol/L vs 1.71 ± 0.03, 2.31 ± 0.49 mmol/L; ALT: 1518.64 ± 186.04 nkat/L vs 1181.57 ± 37.84, 1262.92 ± 159.20 nkat/L; MDA: 13.40 ± 4.24 μmol/L vs 5.89 ± 1.05, 7.23 ± 1.15 μmol/L; all P < 0.05), but the activity of SOD was lower in group C (5.21 ± 0.81 nkat/mL vs 11.91 ± 2.69, 11.19 ± 0.78 nkat/mL, P < 0.05). There were no notable differences between group A and B (P > 0.05). The tissue contents of TG and TC were dramatically higher both in group B and C than those in group A (TG: 2.14 ± 0.26, 5.83 ± 1.42 mmol/L vs 1.20 ± 0.16 mmol/L, P < 0.05; TC: 3.19 ± 0.23, 9.63 ± 1.12 mmol/L vs 2.13 ± 0.16 mmol/L, P < 0.05), and there was also statistical difference between group B and C (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver can be successfully established within 5 wk by the improved method, which needs less time and cost during the construction, and basically simulating the occurrence and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver in human beings.