[Observation of the promotion effect taurine on hepatic stellate cell's apoptosis in rat hepatic fibrosis model].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of taurine on hepatic stellate cell's apoptosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats and to study its protective mechanisms.


METHODS
CCl4-induced rat hepatic fibrosis was treated by taurine. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), plasma protein, hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen III (PC III), hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzyme and anti-transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) were determined. In addition, hepatic stellate cell's apoptosis and the pathological changes of liver tissue were observed under light microscope.


RESULTS
The activity of serum ALT and the levels of serum HA, PC III were markedly reduced by taurine treatment. The hepatic cytochrome P450 (Cyt. P450) and cytochrome b5 (Cytb5) contents were increased by the same treatment. In addition, taurine could significantly inhibit the expression of TGF-beta1, promote the hepatic stellate cell's apoptosis, and relieve hepatic fibrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Taurine fulfills a role in promoting hepatic stellate cell's apoptosis in the case of hepatic fibrosis, it mitigates the liver injury, decreases the expression of TGF-beta1, and relieves hepatic fibrosis.
Liang
Jian
J
Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Ruikang Hospital of Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medicine College, Nanning, China.
Zhang
Xi-liu
XL
Yang
Guang-ye
GY
Pang
Yu-sheng
YS
Yuan
Hai-feng
HF
Liang
Jing-song
JS
Huang
Ren-bin
RB
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
C508962:Tgfb1 protein, rat; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D013654:Taurine