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Ji H, Minuk GY, Peng Z, Chen Y, Pan C, Gong Y. Active immunization against transforming growth factor beta1 prevents hepatic fibrosis in a rat model of liver disease. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2017; 95:743-749. [PMID: 28301738 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2016-0669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) plays an important role in hepatic fibrogenesis. In this study, we documented the effects of active immunization against TGF-β1 on hepatic fibrosis in an animal model of chronic liver disease. BALB/c mice were immunized against 3 different peptides of TGF-β1 ligated into hepatitis B virus core protein (HBVc). Titers of TGF-β1 antibodies were documented by enzyme linked immunoassays and antibody activity by cell membrane receptor binding and proliferation assays. The most immunogenic recombinant HBVc + TGF-β1 peptide (HBVc + C) then served as a vaccine in Sprague-Dawley rats with dimethylnitrosamine-induced chronic liver disease. Hepatic fibrosis was documented by serum hyaluronic acid levels, liver histology, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for hepatic collagen I (α1) and smooth muscle alpha actin mRNA expression. Relative to control rats vaccinated with HBVc alone, recombinant HBVc + C vaccinated animals had significantly lower serum hyaluronic acid levels, less histologic evidence of hepatic fibrosis, and reduced expression of collagen I (α1) and smooth muscle alpha actin mRNA in the liver. The results of this proof-of-concept study suggest that active immunization against TGF-β1 is a worthwhile strategy to pursue in efforts to prevent hepatic fibrosis associated with chronic liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Ji
- a College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0T5, Canada.,b Section of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
| | - Gerald Y Minuk
- b Section of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
| | - Zhikang Peng
- c Department of Pediatrics & Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
| | - Yongping Chen
- d The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Chenwei Pan
- d The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yuewen Gong
- a College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0T5, Canada.,b Section of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
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