title: Protective effects of ursodeoxycholic acid against immune-mediated liver fibrosis in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a natural component of bile, has been synthesized to treat cholestatic liver diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis. Broad biochemical changes in UDCA-treated patients suggest beneficial effects of UDCA beyond stimulating hepatobiliary secretion and possible efficacy of the medicine in treating cirrhosis of other causes. The aim was to explore the potential benefit of UDCA in controlling immune-mediated hepatic fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We applied the rat experimental model of liver fibrosis induced by intraperitoneal injection of porcine serum. UDCA was administered orally during the course of the serum injections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the untreated group, the rats treated with UDCA ended with significantly higher body weight, lower liver weight, and lower spleen weight. The treated groups also demonstrated less severe liver fibrosis, with significantly lowered hepatic expression of type I and type III collagens, in terms of both mRNA and proteins. Moreover, serum levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), type IV collagen (C IV), and type III procollagen (PC III) were also lower in the UDCA-treated animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UDCA deters development of immune-mediated liver fibrosis by inhibiting the expression of collagen and other extracelluar matrix components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Liver Diseases, Jinan Infectious Disease Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province 250021, PR China.
authors.forename: Li-Xin
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tie-Jun
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yan-Rong
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Wan-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Guo-Qing
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lai-Cheng
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Cheng-Yong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Qin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000032:analysis; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013552:Swine; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D024043:Collagen Type II; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid