title: Suppression by fucoidan of liver fibrogenesis via the TGF-β/Smad pathway in protecting against oxidative stress.
abstract: Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from various types of brown seaweed, possesses a wide range of pharmacological properties. We investigated the protective effect of fucoidan on dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrogenesis in rats and its mechanism. Liver fibrosis was induced by injecting DMN (10 mg/kg, 3 times per week, I.P.) for 4 weeks, and fucoidan was simultaneously administered (100 mg/kg, 3 times per week, P.O.). The anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of fucoidan were observed by relative mediators. Fucoidan improved liver fibrosis by inhibiting the expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β(1))/Smad3 and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), and increasing the expression of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Fucoidan also significantly decreased the accumulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and collagen. These results suggest that fucoidan had an anti-fibrotic effect, which was exerted by inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad pathway, as well as anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects.
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences and NCEED, School of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sang-Won
authors: SW
authors: Hong
authors: Kyung Hee
authors: KH
authors: Jung
authors: Hee-Seung
authors: HS
authors: Lee
authors: Hong-Mei
authors: HM
authors: Zheng
authors: Myung-Joo
authors: MJ
authors: Choi
authors: Chongmu
authors: C
authors: Lee
authors: Soon-Sun
authors: SS
authors: Hong