title: Inhibition of hepatic damage and liver fibrosis by brain natriuretic peptide.
abstract: Anti-fibrotic and organ protective effects of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) have been reported. In this study, effects of BNP on liver fibrosis were examined in the carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver fibrosis model using BNP-transgenic (Tg) and wild-type (WT) mice. Twice-a-week intraperitoneal injections of CCl(4) for 8 weeks resulted in massive liver fibrosis, augmented transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) and type I procollagen alpha(1) chain (Col1a1) mRNA expression, and the hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation in WT mice, all of which were significantly suppressed in Tg mice. These observations indicate that BNP inhibits liver fibrosis by attenuating the activation of HSCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuhiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sonoyama
authors.forename: Naohisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Kazutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyashita
authors.forename: Kwijun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Naofumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oyamada
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taura
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inuzuka
authors.forename: Yasutomo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukunaga
authors.forename: Masakatsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sone
authors.forename: Kazuwa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics; D000090602:Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D000090602:Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride