title: Pegylated interferon-alpha plus taurine in treatment of rat liver fibrosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the antifibrotic effects of peginterferon-alpha 2b and taurine on oxidative stress markers and hepatocellular apoptosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty rats with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis were divided into 4 groups (n=15). Group 1 was left for spontaneous recovery (SR). Groups 2-4 received peginterferon-alpha 2b, taurine, and their combination, respectively, for four weeks. Histological fibrosis scores, histomorphometric analysis, tissue hydroxyproline, tissue MDA, GPx and SOD activities were determined. Activated stellate cells and hepatocellular apoptosis were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The degree of fibrosis decreased in all treatment groups compared to spontaneous recovery group. Taurine alone and in combination with peginterferon-alpha 2b reduced oxidative stress markers, but peginterferon-alpha 2b alone did not. Apoptotic hepatocytes and activated stellate cells were higher in groups 2-4 than in group 1. Combined taurine and peginterferon-alpha 2b further reduced fibrosis and increased activated stellate cell apoptosis, but could not improve oxidative stress more than taurine alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peginterferon-alpha 2b exerts anti-fibrotic effects on rat liver fibrosis. It seems ineffective against oxidative stress in vivo. Peginterferon-alpha 2b in combination with taurine seems to be an antifibrotic strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gulhane School of Medicine Etlik 06018 Ankara, Turkey. itasci@gata.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ilker
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tasci
authors.forename: Mehmet Refik
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mas
authors.forename: Sevil Atalay
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Vural
authors.forename: Salih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deveci
authors.forename: Bilgin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Comert
authors.forename: Gunay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alcigir
authors.forename: Nuket
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mas
authors.forename: Cemal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Akay
authors.forename: Mithat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozdayi
authors.forename: Cihan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yurdaydin
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bozkaya
authors.forename: Ozden
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Uzunalimoglu
authors.forename: Ahmet Turan
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Isik
authors.forename: Harun M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Said
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000032:analysis; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013654:Taurine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013654:Taurine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; D006909:Hydroxyproline