[The effect of urokinase on hepatic fibrogenesis in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of urokinase on hepatic fibrogenesis in rats.


METHODS
Hepatic fibrosis was induced in rats by complex pathogenic factors including subcutaneous injections of carbon tetrachloride, alcohol and cholesterol feeding. Animals were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal control group, hepatic fibrosis group (complex pathogenic factors for 6 weeks), UK prevention group (complex pathogenic factors+UK for 6 weeks). The animals were sacrificed at the end of week 6. The expression of alpha-SMA, uPA, PAI-1, TGFb1, TIMP-1, collagen type I and type III proteins in hepatic fibrosis tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry, the expression of PAI-1 and TGFb1 mRNA in the hepatic fibrosis tissue was quantified by real time RT-PCR. The serum levels of hyaluronicacid (HA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), bilirubin (TBil) and the content of liver hydroxyproline (Hyp) were detected using ELISA kits.


RESULTS
The serum ALT, AST, TBil, HA and the content of liver Hyp were (46.66+/-6.30) U/L, (126.26+/-31.65) U/L, (31.11+/-4.20) micromol/L, (109.70+/-18.81) microg/L and (0.98+/-0.09) mg/(g liver), respectively, in UK prevention group, which were significantly lower than those [(101.57+/-11.97) U/L, (205.89+/-56.26) U/L, (67.75+/-2.75) micromol/L, (184.43+/-32.36) microg/L and (1.65+/-0.16) mg/(g liver), respectively] in hepatic fibrosis group (q = 3.3801-20.0061, P < 0.01). The levels of a-SMA, collagen type I, type III, TIMP-1, PAI-1, TGFb1 proteins were (299.27+/-37.36), (210.05+/-27.17), (192.94+/-24.48), (213.70+/-32.21), (204.25+/-17.92), (205.97+/-23.81), respectively, in UK prevention group, which were significantly lower than those [(418.83+/-30.21), (323.77+/-21.53), (302.37+/-31.43), (376.63+/-25.19), (313.53+/-26.67) and (327.42+/-36.75), respectively] in hepatic fibrosis group. The level of uPA protein was increased, and the expression of PAI-1, TGFb1 mRNA in hepatic fibrosis tissue was decreased in UK prevention group.


CONCLUSIONS
In the early stage of hepatic fibrogenesis, urokinase can attenuate the progression of rat hepatic fibrosis via upregulation of uPA, downregulation of TGFb1, and inhibition of HSC activation.
Wu
Xi-run
XR
Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China. xirunwu66@yahoo.com.cn
Wang
Qi
Q
Wang
Ling
L
Shi
Shui-sheng
SS
Guo
Wen-dong
WD
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000199:Actins; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D006909:Hydroxyproline