title: The effects of N-acetylcysteine on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in hepatic fibrosis in bile duct ligated rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  N-acetylcysteine can inhibit the formation of intracellular reactive oxygen intermediates. Cellular redox state plays a role in regulating the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-2. We investigated the effects of N-acetylcysteine on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bile duct ligated rats were used as a model of hepatic fibrosis. We compared the level of gene expression (using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR]), liver function parameters, hepatic reactive oxygen production, lipid peroxidation and glutathione state in experimental groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  N-acetylcysteine treatment significantly improved liver function parameters including the plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and bilirubin. In addition, significant improvement of glutathione state and reactive oxygen production were observed. Hepatic lipid peroxidation was reversed by N-acetylcysteine treatment. Although N-acetylcysteine treatment did not completely normalize the increased matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression, it significantly decreased its level by 65%. N-acetylcysteine treatment also significantly decreased matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity and normalized tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collectively, N-acetylcysteine showed inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression and activity. In addition, administration of N-acetylcysteine was associated with downregulation of the expression of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and amelioration of oxidative stress in the liver of bile duct ligated rats.
authors: Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Arezou
authors: A
authors: Rezaei
authors: Sussan Kaboudanian
authors: SK
authors: Ardestani
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: Forouzandeh
authors: Seyed Mohammad
authors: SM
authors: Tavangar
authors: Mohammad Reza
authors: MR
authors: Khorramizadeh
authors: Seyedmehdi
authors: S
authors: Payabvash
authors: Behtash Ghazi
authors: BG
authors: Nezami
authors: Zahra
authors: Z
authors: Jahanshiri
authors: Zahra
authors: Z
authors: Tavakoli
authors: Ahmad
authors: A
authors: Shariftabrizi
authors: Ahmad Reza
authors: AR
authors: Dehpour