Suppressive effect of herbal compound 861 on chemical hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of herbal compound 861 (Cpd861) on hepatocarcinogenesis induced by diethylntrosamine and 2-acetylaminofluorene (DEN-AAF) in female Sprague Dawley rats.


METHODS
Liver preneoplastic foci were induced using the DEN-AAF method in female Sprague Dawley rats, which were then treated with Cpd861. For quantitative assessment of liver preneoplastic foci, the placental form of glutathione-S-transferase (GST-P) positive foci were measured using immunohistochemical staining and image analysis. GST-P protein expression was measured by Western blotting, mRNA expression was assessed by Northern blotting.


RESULTS
Treatment using DEN-AAF caused a significant decrease in body weight and increase in liver weight compared to the control group. Oral Cpd861 administration essentially prevented DEN-AAF-induced body weight loss and liver weight increase. When 2-AAF was followed by treatment with Cpd861, there was a decrease in the number of large foci as compared to 2-AAF alone. However, there were still considerable numbers of small mixed clear/vacuolated cell foci, some of which were positive for GST-P. Significant increase in GST-P protein and mRNA expression were observed in the DEN-AAF group, while treatment with Cpd861 inhibited the increase. The effect of Cpd861 on hepatocarcinogenesis occurred in a concentration-dependent manner.


CONCLUSIONS
Chinese herbal compound Cpd861 prevents hepatocarcinogenesis in DEN-AAF-induced liver preneoplastic lesions in rats.
Cui
Rutao
R
Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China. cuirutao@sina.com
Wang
Baoen
B
Zhang
Fukui
F
Chen
Guangyong
G
Yin
Shanshan
S
D015073:2-Acetylaminofluorene; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001835:Body Weight; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C476499:herbal compound 861; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D015073:2-Acetylaminofluorene; D005982:Glutathione Transferase