Antifibrotic and fibrolytic properties of celecoxib in liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride in the rat.
BACKGROUND
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) plays a pivotal role in liver fibrosis, because it activates hepatic stellate cells, stimulating extracellular matrix deposition. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been associated with TGF-beta because its inhibition decreases TGF-beta expression and collagen production in some cultured cell types.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of celecoxib (a selective COX-2 inhibitor) to prevent and to reverse the liver fibrosis induced by CCl(4).


METHODS
We established experimental groups of rats including vehicle and drug controls, damage induced by chronic CCl(4) administration and CCl(4) plus pharmacological treatment in both prevention and reversion models. We determined: alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, COX and metalloproteinase-2 and -9 activities, lipid peroxidation, glutathione levels, glycogen and collagen content and TGF-beta expression.


RESULTS
Celecoxib prevented and aided to the recovery of livers with necrotic and cholestatic damage. Celecoxib exhibited anti-oxidant properties by restoring the redox equilibrium (lipid peroxidation and glutathione levels). Glycogen was decreased by CCl(4), while celecoxib partially prevented and reversed this effect. Celecoxib inhibited COX-2 activity, decreased TGF-beta expression, induced metalloproteinase-2 activity and, consequently, prevented and reversed collagen accumulation.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that celecoxib exerts strong antifibrogenic and fibrolytic effects in the CCl(4) model of cirrhosis.
Chávez
Enrique
E
Departamento de Farmacología, Cinvestav-IPN., México, D.F. México.
Segovia
José
J
Shibayama
Mineko
M
Tsutsumi
Victor
V
Vergara
Paula
P
Castro-Sánchez
Luis
L
Salazar
Eduardo Pérez
EP
Moreno
Mario G
MG
Muriel
Pablo
P
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D000068579:Celecoxib; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006003:Glycogen; D003094:Collagen; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C489691:Ptgs2 protein, rat; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; C522363:Mmp2 protein, rat; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D005978:Glutathione; D000068579:Celecoxib