Basic Research
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 7, 2005; 11(1): 122-126
Published online Jan 7, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i1.122
Treatment of pig serum-induced rat liver fibrosis with Boschniakia rossica, oxymatrine and interferon-α
Chun-Song Wu, Xi-Xu Piao, Dong-Ming Piao, Yong-Ri Jin, Cheng-Hao Li
Chun-Song Wu, Xi-Xu Piao, Yong-Ri Jin, Cheng-Hao Li, Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Yanbian University, Yanji 133000, Jilin Province, China
Dong-Ming Piao, Department of Pathology, the Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Yanbian University, Yanji 133000, Jilin Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Medical Scientific Research Fund of Health Department of Jilin Province, No. 114
Correspondence to: Xi-Xu Piao, Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Yanbian University, 119 Juzi Street, Yanji 133000, Jilin Province, China. piaoxixu1951@yahoo.com
Telephone: +86-433-2660061 Fax: +86-433-2513610
Received: May 11, 2003
Revised: May 17, 2003
Accepted: June 12, 2003
Published online: January 7, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effect of Boschniakia rossica (BR), oxymatrine (OM) and interferon-alpha (IFN-α) 1b on the therapy of rat liver fibrosis and its mechanism.

METHODS: By establishing a rat model of pig serum-induced liver fibrosis, liver/weight index and serum alanine transaminase (ALT) were observed to investigate the therapeutic effect of BR,OM and IFN-α. Radioimmunoassay was utilized to measure procollagen type III (PCIII) and collagen type IV (CIV). RT-PCR was used to assay the expression of liver transforming growth factor- beta 1 (TGF-β1) mRNA. Immunohistochemistry of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and pathologic changes of liver tissues were also under investigation.

RESULTS: Serum PCIII and CIV in BR, OM and IFN-α groups were significantly declined compared with those in model group, and their RT-PCR revealed that TGF-β1 mRNA expression was also reduced more than that in model group. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that α-SMA also declined more than that in model group. Serum ALT in IFN-α, control and model groups was within normal level. Serum ALT in BR group had no significant difference from those of IFN-α, control and model groups. Serum ALT in OM group was significantly higher than those in BR, IFN-α, model, and control groups.

CONCLUSION: BR, OM and IFN-α can prevent pig serum-induced liver rat fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells and synthesizing collagen. OM has hepatotoxicity to rat liver fibrosis induced by pig serum.

Keywords: Liver fibrosis; Boschniakia rossica; Oxymatrine; Interferon-alpha