[Effects of transforming growth factor beta 3 on the histopathology and expression of collagen I in experimental hepatic fibrotic rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investgate the effects of TGFbeta3 on rat hepatic fibrosis.


METHODS
The TGFbeta3 cDNA was cloned into rAAV2 vector. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, model group, negative control group and TGFbeta3 group. Hepatic fibrosis was induced by hypodermic injection of 40% CCl(4). Recombinant AAV2-TGFbeta3 viral particles were injected via the vena caudalis one week before CCl(4) treatment. Rats were executed 8 weeks after CCl(4) treatment, global histological change was observed after HE staining, the distribution of the collagen fibers was observed after masson staining, histochemistry was done to observe the expression of collagen I; The positive area rate of the collagen fibers and the average optical rate of collagen I were quantified.


RESULTS
HE staining indicated that collagen fibers were reduced in the TGFbeta3 group. Masson staining shown that the collagen fibers were distributed around the blood vessel, in the portal area and disse space. Compared to the model group (13.2%+/-2.2%) and negative control group (12.3%+/-1.5%), the collagen fibers in liver tissues of TGFbeta3 group (7.7%+/-1.5%) were significantly decreased (q = 9.456, P < 0.01; q = 8.217, P < 0.01). Histochemistry indicated that the collagen fibers of liver tissues of TGFbeta3 group (0.185+/-0.033) were significantly higher than those in the model group (0.252+/-0.042) and the negative control group (0.230+/-0.029), (q = 6.228, P < 0.01; q = 4.346, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
TGFbeta3 alleviates the damage to hepatic cell and the level of fibrosis in CCl(4) treated rats and inhibits the expression of collagen I.
Liu
Ping
P
Department of Digestive Medicine, Union Hospital, Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Gao
Xiao-liang
XL
Yu
Jiao
J
Qian
Wei
W
Xu
Ke-shu
KS
D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014162:Transfection; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D024042:Collagen Type I; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride