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Effect of Chinese traditional compound, Gan‐fu‐kang, on CCl 4 ‐induced liver fibrosis in rats and its probable molecular mechanisms
Author(s) -
Xu TingTing,
Jiang MiaoNa,
Li Cong,
Che Ying,
Jia YuJie
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2007.00029.x
Subject(s) - laminin , hydroxyproline , fibrosis , extracellular matrix , hepatic fibrosis , liver function , albumin , immunohistochemistry , hepatic stellate cell , histopathology , medicine , pathology , endocrinology , chemistry , biochemistry
Aim: To explore the antifibrotic effect of traditional Chinese medicine compound Gan‐fu‐kang (GFK) on CCl 4 ‐induced liver fibrosis in rats and its probable mechanisms. Methods: The effects of GFK on CCl 4 ‐induced liver fibrosis were tested in rats. The liver histopathology was examined by light microscope, polaring microscope and electron microscope. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were assayed and the content of albumin (ALB) and hydroxyproline in the liver was measured. The expression of transforming growth factor‐β 1 (TGF‐β 1 ) and laminin (LN) was determined by immunohistochemistry. Semi‐quantitive computation of collagen types I and III and laminin was done. The expression of MMP‐2 and TIMP‐1 was assayed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). Results: Upon pathological examination, GFK treatment had significantly reversed liver fibrosis. Hepatic extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition was significantly reduced, as evidenced by the reduction of the content of hydroxyproline, collagen types I and III, and laminin. Hepatic function was improved by GFK treatment, as evidenced by the increase of plasma ALB and A/G, and by the decrease of serum ALT and AST. TGF‐β 1 in liver was significantly reduced. A significant expression of MMP‐2 and TIMP‐1 mRNA in liver were downregulated after GFK treatment. Conclusion: The traditional Chinese medicine compound recipe GFK has an antifibrotic effect on CCl 4 ‐induced liver fibrosis in rats, which improves hepatic function and lessens the deposition of collagen in the liver. The probable antifibrotic mechanisms were: inhibiting the expression of TGF‐β 1 and decreasing expressions of MMP‐2 and TIMP‐1.