Rat liver fibrosis regresses better with pegylated interferon alpha2b and ursodeoxycholic acid treatments than spontaneous recovery.
OBJECTIVE
Fibrosis and cirrhosis are common complications of chronic liver diseases. An imbalance between fibrogenesis and fibrolysis results in scarring of the liver parenchyma. We aimed to investigate the possible antifibrotic effectiveness of a newly modified interferon molecule peginterferon alpha2b (PEG-IFNalpha2b) which has better antiviral activity, and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).


METHODS
Liver fibrosis was established on 60 male Sprague Dawley rats with CCl4 in 12 weeks. After cessation of CCl4 Group I was left for spontaneous recovery. Group II was treated with PEG-IFN 1.5 microg/kg/week, Group III with UDCA 25 mg/kg/day and Group IV with combination of both drugs. All rats were killed at week 16. Histopathologic fibrosis scores, tissue hydroxyproline, TIMP-1 and MMP-13 levels were determined. Hepatic stellate cell apoptosis was detected by dual staining with TUNEL technique and anti-alpha smooth muscle actin.


RESULTS
Fibrosis scores were lower in Group II, III and IV than Group I (p<0.05 for group I vs. II and III; p<0.01 for group I vs. IV). Tissue hydroxyproline levels were significantly decreased in Group II, III and IV when compared to Group I (p<0.05 for group I vs. II, p<0.01 for group I vs. III and IV). Lower liver TIMP-1 and higher MMP-13 levels were measured in Group II, III, and Group IV than Group I (p<0.01 for TIMP-1 and p<0.01, for MMP). Activated HSC apoptosis was significantly increased in Group II, III and IV when compared to Group I (p<0.01, for all). There was significantly higher apoptosis in Group II than Group III and IV (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with both PEG-IFNalpha2b and UDCA improved CCl4 induced rat liver fibrosis. Significantly higher effects were obtained using these agents in combination.
Tasci
Iiker
I
Gulhane School of Medicine, Internal Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. ilkertasci@yahoo.com
Mas
Mehmet R
MR
Vural
Sevil A
SA
Comert
Bilgin
B
Alcigir
Gunay
G
Serdar
Muhittin
M
Mas
Nuket
N
Isik
Ahmet T
AT
Ates
Yuksel
Y
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017364:Collagenases / Q000378:metabolism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D020127:Recovery of Function; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000199:Actins; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D017364:Collagenases; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; C507083:Mmp13 protein, rat; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; D006909:Hydroxyproline