BACKGROUND: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent growth factor involved in liver regeneration that has various effects on epithelial and nonepithelial cells. Although it has been demonstrated that HGF can reduce liver inflammation or fibrosis caused by pharmaceutical or chemical insult, no examination of its effect on liver injury in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has been reported. METHODS: To examine the effect of HGF on liver injury in NASH, we generated a murine steatohepatitis model on an HGF overexpression transgenic (Tg) background, and fed the mice a methionine- and choline-deficient diet (MCD). RESULTS: In mice fed the MCD diet, serum ALT levels and the inflammation score for the Tg mice were significantly lower than those for the wild-type (Wt) control mice (P < 0.01). The index of lipid peroxidation increased in the liver of the Wt mice as demonstrated by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. Furthermore, the liver fibrosis in Tg mice was dramatically suppressed in comparison to that in Wt mice. The gene expression of matrix metalloprotease-13 in the Tg mice was significantly increased in comparison to that of the Wt mice. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay showed the apoptotic cells to significantly decrease in number in the Tg mice in comparison to the Wt mice fed the MCD diet (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Hepatocyte growth factor ameliorated liver inflammation and fibrosis in a murine model of NASH as a result of the anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effect, and the induction of fibrinolysis.
BACKGROUND:Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent growth factor involved in liver regeneration that has various effects on epithelial and nonepithelial cells. Although it has been demonstrated that HGF can reduce liver inflammation or fibrosis caused by pharmaceutical or chemical insult, no examination of its effect on liver injury in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has been reported. METHODS: To examine the effect of HGF on liver injury in NASH, we generated a murinesteatohepatitis model on an HGF overexpression transgenic (Tg) background, and fed the mice a methionine- and choline-deficient diet (MCD). RESULTS: In mice fed the MCD diet, serum ALT levels and the inflammation score for the Tg mice were significantly lower than those for the wild-type (Wt) control mice (P < 0.01). The index of lipid peroxidation increased in the liver of the Wt mice as demonstrated by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. Furthermore, the liver fibrosis in Tg mice was dramatically suppressed in comparison to that in Wt mice. The gene expression of matrix metalloprotease-13 in the Tg mice was significantly increased in comparison to that of the Wt mice. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay showed the apoptotic cells to significantly decrease in number in the Tg mice in comparison to the Wt mice fed the MCD diet (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION:Hepatocyte growth factor ameliorated liver inflammation and fibrosis in a murine model of NASH as a result of the anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effect, and the induction of fibrinolysis.
Authors: Christian Liedtke; Yulia A Nevzorova; Tom Luedde; Henning Zimmermann; Daniela Kroy; Pavel Strnad; Marie-Luise Berres; Jürgen Bernhagen; Frank Tacke; Jacob Nattermann; Ulrich Spengler; Tilman Sauerbruch; Alexander Wree; Zeinab Abdullah; René H Tolba; Jonel Trebicka; Twan Lammers; Christian Trautwein; Ralf Weiskirchen Journal: Front Med (Lausanne) Date: 2022-01-11