[Effect of pentoxifylline on the expression of hepatic TGF-beta 1, type I and type III collagen in mice with liver fibrosis due to Schistosoma japonicum infection].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of pentoxifylline (PTX) on the content of hepatic TGF-beta 1, type I and type III collagen in schistosome-infected mice with liver 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 of hepatic TGF-beta 1, type I and type III collagen in mice infected with S. japonicum before and after treatment.


RESULTS
The effect of PTX on the content of hepatic TGF-beta 1, type I and type III collagen in mice was related to the dosage of PTX. High dose PTX treatment significantly reduced the content of TGF-beta 1, type I and type III collagen compared to the control (P < 0.01), whereas no difference was found between the group of low dose PTX treatment and control (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
High dose PTX treatment could reduce the content of hepatic TGF-beta 1, type I and type III collagen significantly in schistosome-infected mice with liver fibrosis.
Xiong
Li-juan
LJ
Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022.
Luo
Duan-de
DD
Zeng
Lin-lan
LL
Li
Shu-li
SL
D000818:Animals; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; C508961:Tgfb1 protein, mouse; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D010431:Pentoxifylline