[Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in rat liver fibrosis model and the role of IFN-gamma].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in rat liver fibrosis model induced by CCl4 and the role of IFN-gamma.


METHODS
Liver fibrosis was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of CCl4. The rats were divided into fibrosis model group, Bie-Jia-Ruan-Gan-Tablet treatment group and IFN-gamma treatment group (0.2 MU.kg.d, i. m. for 12 weeks), and another 10 rats without any treatment were used as normal control. Bcl-2 and Bax proteins expression were detected by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Bcl-2 was expressed weakly in the homogenate of hepatocytes and hepatic sinusoid in normal control rats, and it was expressed stronger in fibrous septae, portal area, hepatic sinusoid, the homogenate and membrane of hepatocytes and central vein in fibrosis model rats (3.87%+/-2.37% vs 9.46%+/-4.29%, t=2.83, P<0.05). Bax was expressed slightly in central vein and the hepatic sinusoid around, and it was expressed stronger in the homogenate of hepatocytes, hepatic sinusoid, fibrous septae, membrane of hepatocytes and epithelial cells of bile duct (3.50%+/-1.88% vs 9.80%+/-3.75%, t=3.72, P<0.01). Compared with that in fibrosis model rats, the expression of Bax was significantly lower in rats treated with IFN-gamma (9.80%+/-3.75% vs 5.85%+/-2.35%, t=2.98, P<0.01), but the expression of Bcl-2 was not significantly different (t=1.49, P>0.05), however it was significantly lower in fibrous septae in IFN-gamma-treated group than in model group (6.58%+/-4.13% vs 9.46%+/-4.29%, t=2.80, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax increases in liver fibrosis model rats, and IFN-gamma can promote myofibroblasts apoptosis
Tao
Jun
J
Institute of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Cai
Wei-min
WM
Lu
Liang-wei
LW
Chen
Qun-wei
QW
Weng
Hong-lei
HL
Zhang
Yong-sheng
YS
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
C494828:Bax protein, rat; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D007371:Interferon-gamma