Basic Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 15, 2003; 9(1): 152-154
Published online Jan 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i1.152
Effects of pentoxifylline on the hepatic content of TGF-β1 and collagen in Schistosomiasis japonica mice with liver fibrosis
Li-Juan Xiong, Jian-Fang Zhu, Duan-De Luo, Lin-Lan Zen, Shu-Qing Cai
Li-Juan Xiong, Duan-De Luo, Lin-Lan Zen, Shu-Qing Cai, Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Jian-Fang Zhu, Department of Central Laboratory, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Science Research Foundation of Schistosomiasis of Hubei Province, No.2000
Correspondence to: Dr. Li-Juan Xiong, Department of Infectious Disease, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China. kljxiong@public.wh.hb.cn
Telephone: +86-27-85726109
Received: August 15, 2002
Revised: August 30, 2002
Accepted: September 12, 2002
Published online: January 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: To study the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on the content of hepatic TGF-β1, type I and type III collagen in schistosomiasis japonica mice with liver fibrosis and its mechanism of anti-fibrosis.

METHODS: Forty mice with schistosomiasis were divided into four groups: one group as control without any treatment, other three were treated with Praziquantel 500 mg/(kg·d)for 2 d, high dose PTX 360 mg/(kg·d) for 8 wk, and low dose PTX 180 mg/(kg·d) for 8 wk respectively. Immunohistochemical technique and multimedia color pathographic analysis system were applied to observe the content change of hepatic TGF-β1, type I and type III collagen in schistosomiasis japonica mice with liver fibrosis before and after PTX treatment.

RESULTS: Effects of PTX on the content change of hepatic TGF-β1, type I and type III collagen in schistosomiasis japonica mice with liver fibrosis were related to the dosage of PTX, high dose PTX treated group could significantly reduce the content of TGF-β1 (0.709 ± 0.111), type I (0.644 ± 0.108) and type III (0.654 ± 0.152) collagen compared with those of control group (0.883 ± 0.140, 0.771 ± 0.156, 0.822 ± 0.129) with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Low dose PTX could also reduce the hepatic content of TGF-β1 (0.752 ± 0.152), type I (0.733 ± 0.117) and type III (0.788 ± 0.147) collagen, but without statistical significance (P > 0.05). Both high dose and low dose PTX groups have significant differences on the content of TGF-β1, type I and type III collagen (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSION: High dose of PTX treatment could reduce the content of hepatic TGF-β1, type I and type III collagen significantly in schistosomiasis japonica mice with liver fibrosis, and thus plays its role of antifibrosis.

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