Effect of Jiazhu on α-SMA and TGF-β1 expression in rats with hepatic fibrosis

AIM:To investigate the effect of Jiazhu onα-SMA and TGF-β1 expression in the liver of rats with hepatic fibrosis and its anti-fibrosis mechanism. METHODS:A model of rat hepatic fibrosis was induced by injecting 40% CCL_4,which was in- terfered with high [2.0 g/(kg·d)],medium[1.0 g/(kg·d)] and low doses [0.5 g/(kg·d)] of Jia- zhu.Hepatic function and serum TGF-β1 were examined.Expression ofα-SMA and TGF-β1 was detected by immunohistochemistry and RT- PCR. RESULTS:Compared with the model group, the levels of aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase were significantly decreased in the high,medium and low Jiazhu dose groups.Total protein and albumin increased while serum bili- rub and TGF-β1 were significantly reduced.The expression ofα-SMA and TGF-β1 in liver tissue was decreased.The mRNA expression,stained area and gray scale ofα-SMA and TGF-β1 in the high,medium and low Jiazhu dose groups were significantly different compared with the model group(α-SMA:9.21±1.12、12.63±2.42、14.23±1.57 vs 16.32±2.14,P<0.01、P<0.01、P<0.05; TGF-β1 mRNA:5.58±0.80、8.62±1.16、11.92±1.35 vs 14.57±1.59、P<0.01、P<0.01、P<0.01), (dyeing area ofα-SMA:9.21%±1.29%、12.63%±1.44%、14.23%±1.41% vs 16.32%±1.75%,P<0.01、P<0.01、P<0.05;dyeing area of TGF-β1: 5.31%±0.70%、8.37%±1.09%、11.92%±1.42% vs 14.47%±1.48%,P<0.01、P<0.01、P<0.01), (gray scale ofα-SMA:91.29±9.53、99.55±11.83、107.18±12.06 vs 116.44±12.97,P<0.01, P<0.01、P<0.05;gray scale of TGF-β1:89.96±9.64、106.92±13.90、110.50±12.91 vs 127.13±14.88,P<0.01、P<0.01、P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Jiazhu can inhibit rat hepatic fibrosis induced by CCL_4.