Effect of WeiJia on carbon tetrachloride induced chronic liver injury.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of WeiJia on chronic liver injury using carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced liver injury animal model.


METHODS
Wistar rats weighing 180-220g were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group (Group A), CCl(4) induced liver injury control group (Group B) and CCl(4) induction with WeiJia treatment group (Group C). Each group consisted of 14 rats. Liver damage and fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injection with 40% CCl(4) in olive oil at 3 mL/kg body weight twice a week for eight weeks for Groups B and C rats whereas olive oil was used for Group A rats. Starting from the third week, Group C rats also received daily intraperitoneal injection of WeiJia at a dose of 1.25 microg/kg body weight. Animals were sacrificed at the fifth week (4 male, 3 female), and eighth week (4 male, 3 female) respectively. Degree of fibrosis were measured and serological markers for liver fibrosis and function including hyaluronic acid (HA), type IV collagen (CIV), gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined. Alpha smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry were also performed.


RESULTS
CCl(4) induction led to the damage of liver and development of fibrosis in Group B and Group C rats when compared to Group A rats. The treatment of WeiJia in Group C rats could reduce the fibrosis condition significantly compared to Group B rats. The effect could be observed after three weeks of treatment and was more obvious after eight weeks of treatment. Serum HA, CIV, ALT, AST and gamma-GT levels after eight weeks of treatment for Group C rats were 58+/-22 microg/L (P<0.01), 57+/-21 microg/L (P<0.01), 47+/-10 U/L (P<0.01), 139+/-13 U/L (P<0.05) and 52+/-21 U/L (P>0.05) respectively, similar to normal control group (Group A), but significantly different from CCl(4) induced liver injury control group (Group B). An increase in PCNA and decrease in alpha-SMA expression level was also observed.


CONCLUSIONS
WeiJia could improve liver function and reduce liver fibrosis which might be through the inhibition of stellate cell activity.
Cheung
Pik-Yuen
PY
Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Zhang
Qi
Q
Zhang
Ya-Ou
YO
Bai
Gan-Rong
GR
Lin
Marie Chia-Mi
MC
Chan
Bernard
B
Fong
Chi-Chun
CC
Shi
Lin
L
Shi
Yue-Feng
YF
Chun
Jay
J
Kung
Hsiang-Fu
HF
Yang
Mengsu
M
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D000199:Actins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D010455:Peptides; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D011506:Proteins; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; C513529:WeiJia; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat