Protective effect of a coffee preparation (Nescafe pure) against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in rats.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the effects of a coffee preparation on liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) and explored the possible mechanisms.


METHODS
Rats were divided randomly into four groups: control, CCl(4), and two coffee preparation groups. Except for the control group, liver fibrosis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats by subcutaneous injection with 40% CCl(4) twice a week for 8 weeks. At the same time, a coffee preparation (300 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg) was administered to the two coffee preparation groups intragastrically once daily.


RESULTS
Upon pathological examination, a coffee preparation treatment significantly reduced liver damage and symptoms of liver fibrosis. The mRNA expression of collagen I, collagen III, bcl-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) were markedly increased by CCl(4) treatment but suppressed by a coffee preparation treatment. Whereas compared with the CCl(4) group, the mRNA expression of Bax was increased in the coffee preparation group. The protein expression of Bax and bcl-2 were confirmed by western blot. Intragastric administration of a coffee preparation reduced the protein expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and the glucose-regulated proteins (GRP) 78 and 94 in rats increased by CCl(4).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that a coffee preparation can efficiently inhibit CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats. The coffee preparation may therefore be a potential functional food for preventing liver fibrosis.
Shi
Hongyang
H
Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliate Hospital of Xian Jiao tong University, Xian 710004, China. shihy2003@126.com
Dong
Lei
L
Zhang
Yong
Y
Bai
Yanhua
Y
Zhao
Juhui
J
Zhang
Li
L
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003069:Coffee; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055951:Functional Food; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000199:Actins; D003069:Coffee; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D020011:Protective Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C018551:glucose-regulated proteins; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat