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In vivo transfection of C/EBP‐α gene could ameliorate CCL 4 ‐induced hepatic fibrosis in mice
Author(s) -
Mei Shuang,
Wang Xueqing,
Zhang Jinsheng,
Qian Jin,
Ji Juling
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.2007.00074.x
Subject(s) - sirius red , in vivo , hepatic stellate cell , transfection , hydroxyproline , microbiology and biotechnology , fibrosis , western blot , hepatic fibrosis , biology , pathology , genetic enhancement , immunohistochemistry , ccl4 , medicine , chemistry , endocrinology , gene , carbon tetrachloride , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Aim: Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a key role in liver fibrosis. CCAAT/enhancer‐binding proteins‐alpha (C/EBP‐α) can inhibit HSCs activation in vitro , as described in our previous study. However, little is known about the in vivo effect of C/EBP‐α gene in hepatic fibrosis. Methods: Male BALB/c mice were injected by hydrodynamic protocol with pIRES2‐EGFP‐C/EBPα expression vector from the first to the fourth week (early intervention) or from the ninth to the 12th week (late intervention) after CCl 4 injection, respectively. Successful transfection of vector and the expression of C/EBP‐α were confirmed with the appearance of green fluorescence in liver cells, immunohistochemical staining and the western blot. Results: High expression of C/EBP‐α gene in liver cells, especially in non‐parenchymal cells, could reduce the content of collagens by 82.5% and 72.3% (Sirius red staining + image analysis) and the content of hydroxyproline by 56.3% and 51.6%, respectively, in the early and late intervention experiments. Conclusion: It is evident that exogenous C/EBP‐α gene has an early and late intervention role in mice liver fibrosis.