title: Downregulation effects of beta-elemene on the levels of plasma endotoxin, serum TNF-alpha, and hepatic CD14 expression in rats with liver fibrosis.
abstract: It has been demonstrated that β-elemene could protect against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver fibrosis in our laboratory work, and the aim of this paper is to reveal the protective mechanisms of β-elemene. The hepatic fibrosis experimental model was induced by the hypodermical injection of CCl(4) in Wistar male rats. β-elemene was intraperitoneally administered into rats for 8 weeks (0.1 mL/100 g bodyweight per day), and plasma endotoxin content was assayed by biochemistry. The serum TNF-α level was detected using radioactive immunity. CD14 expression in rat livers was measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The results showed that β-elemene can downregulate the levels of plasma endotoxins, serum TNF-α, and hepatic CD14 expression in rats with liver fibrosis. β-elemene plays an important role in downregulating the lipopolysaccharide signal transduction pathway, a significant pathway in hepatic fibrosis development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiechang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jiwen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shenjun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D002681:China; D030024:Curcuma; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D028321:Plant Preparations; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C445979:beta-elemene; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride