SB203580 decreases collagen I and collagen III expression in the liver of rats with experimental hepatic fibrosis

AIM: To investigate the effect of P38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 on collagen I and collagen III expression in the liver of rats with experimental hepatic fibrosis. METHODS: Thirty-two female SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: a normal control group, a hepatic fibrosis group, a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group and a SB203580 group. Except the normal control group, rats in other groups were subcutaneously injected with carbon tetrachloride to induce hepatic fibrosis. The DMSO group was intraperitoneally injected with 2�� DMSO [3 mL/(kg?d)]. Rats in the SB203580 group were intraperitoneally injected with SB203580 [10 mg/(kg?d), dissolved in DMSO]. Fibrosis was staged using histopathological methods. The expression of collagen I and collagen III was detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. RESULTS: In the normal control group, hepatic fibrosis group, DMSO group and SB203580 group, mean rank of liver fibrosis stage was 4.50, 22.50, 24.00 and 15.00, respectively; SSS scores were 2.750 �� 0.707, 15.875 �� 0.835, 16.000 �� 0.926 and 11.625 �� 0.916, respectively; color rendering indexes of collagen I were 1.575 �� 0.249, 7.650 �� 0.621, 7.725 �� 0.501 and 4.625 �� 0.495, respectively; color rendering indexes of collagen III were 2.375 �� 0.518, 4.025 �� 0.446, 4.075 �� 0.544 and 3.375 �� 0.167, respectively; the relative expression levels of collagen I were 0.020 �� 0.003, 0.012 �� 0.002, 0.009 �� 0.002 and 0.016 �� 0.005, respectively; the relative expression levels of collagen III were 0.412 �� 0.772, 0.773 �� 0.137, 0.799 �� 0.116 and 0.572 �� 0.862, respectively. Compared to the normal control group, the stage of fibrosis was elevated (P < 0.001) and the expression of collagen I and collagen III was increased (both P < 0.001) in the hepatic fibrosis group. Compared to the hepatic fibrosis group, the stage of fibrosis declined (P = 0.015) and the expression of collagen I (P < 0.001) and collagen III (P = 0.041) was decreased in the SB203580 group. CONCLUSION: P38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 decreases the expression of collagen I and collagen III and inhibits the progression of hepatic fibrosis in rats. ? 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.