Zongtao Hu1,2, Feng Qin3, Shile Gao1,4, Yilan Zhen4, Dake Huang5, Liuyi Dong4. 1. Center of Cancer, The 105th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Clinical College of Anhui Medical UniversityHefei 230031, People's Republic of China. 2. Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of SciencesHefei 230031, People's Republic of China. 3. Department of Medical, The 81st Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation ArmyNanjing 210002, People's Republic of China. 4. Department of Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Antiinflammatory and Immunopharmacology of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Research and Development of State Administration of Traditional Chinese MedicineHefei 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China. 5. Synthetic Laboratory of Basic Medicine College, Anhui Medical UniversityHefei 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
Abstract
AIM: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of paeoniflorin (PAE) on radiation-induced hepatic fibrosis in a rat model. METHODS: Fifty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to normal control group, hepatic fibrosis group, and PAE treatment groups. X-ray exposure was employed to establish radiation-induced hepatic fibrosis model. PAE was administered once daily, and rats were sacrificed at week 26 after irradiation. The liver histopathology was evaluated under a light microscope after HE staining and Masson staining. Meanwhile, the protein expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), Smad3/4 and Smad7 was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Radiation-induced liver damage and collagen deposition were observed in the model group as compared to normal control group, but PAE treatment significantly attenuated the liver injury and reduce collagen deposition (P<0.05 or 0.01). The hepatic hydroxyproline content and serum levels of TGF-β1, hyaluronic acid, ro-collagen type III and laminin markedly increased in model group as compared to control group (P<0.01), but they decreased dramatically after PAE treatment. The expression of TGF-β1, Smad3/4 and Smad7 in the liver increased significantly in model group as compared to control group (P<0.01), and PAE could down-regulate the expression of Smad3/4 and up-regulate Smad7 expression (P<0.05 or 0.01). The activities of serum amino-transferase and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly higher in hepatic fibrosis group than in normal control group, but PAE treatment markedly reduced them (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: PAE can inhibit the radiation induced hepatic fibrosis via regulating TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway.
AIM: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of paeoniflorin (PAE) on radiation-induced hepatic fibrosis in a rat model. METHODS: Fifty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to normal control group, hepatic fibrosis group, and PAE treatment groups. X-ray exposure was employed to establish radiation-induced hepatic fibrosis model. PAE was administered once daily, and rats were sacrificed at week 26 after irradiation. The liver histopathology was evaluated under a light microscope after HE staining and Masson staining. Meanwhile, the protein expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), Smad3/4 and Smad7 was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Radiation-induced liver damage and collagen deposition were observed in the model group as compared to normal control group, but PAE treatment significantly attenuated the liver injury and reduce collagen deposition (P<0.05 or 0.01). The hepatic hydroxyproline content and serum levels of TGF-β1, hyaluronic acid, ro-collagen type III and laminin markedly increased in model group as compared to control group (P<0.01), but they decreased dramatically after PAE treatment. The expression of TGF-β1, Smad3/4 and Smad7 in the liver increased significantly in model group as compared to control group (P<0.01), and PAE could down-regulate the expression of Smad3/4 and up-regulate Smad7 expression (P<0.05 or 0.01). The activities of serum amino-transferase and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly higher in hepatic fibrosis group than in normal control group, but PAE treatment markedly reduced them (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:PAE can inhibit the radiation induced hepatic fibrosis via regulating TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway.