title: [Effects of acupuncture intervention on hepatic platelet-derived growth factor signaling pathway in CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of acupuncture stimulation of "Taichong" (LR 3), "Qimen" (LR 14), etc. on hepatic platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signal pathway activity at the protein and mRNA levels in hepatic fibrosis rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six SD rats were randomly divided into control (10 rats), model (12 rats), acupuncture (12 rats) and non-acupoint (12 rats) groups. Hepatic fibrosis model was established by intraperitoneal injection of mixture solution of 50% CCl4 and olive oil [1:1, 3 times on the 1st week (W), twice/W thereafter for 5 more weeks]. During modeling, acupuncture stimulation of "Taichong" (LR 3), "Qimen" (LR 14), "Ganshu" (BL 18) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) was conducted simultaneously. At the end of the experiments, all the rats were sacrificed for collecting their liver and blood samples, followed by separation of the hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). ELISA, Western blot and Real-time quantitative PCR techniques were used to detect the content of serum PDGF and expression levels of PDGF-beta receptor (PDGF-beta R), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and P 38 genes and proteins of HSCs, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the control group, serum PDGF content, and expression levels of PDGF-beta R mRNA and protein, ERK mRNA and protein and P 38 protein of HSCs in the model group were upregulated significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). In comparison with the model group, serum PDGF content, and the expression levels of PDGF-beta R mRNA and protein, ERK mRNA and protein of HSCs in the acupuncture group were down-regulated apparently (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). No significant differences were found between the acupuncture and non-acupoint groups in serum PDGF content and between the model group and non-acupoint group in the expression levels of PDGF-beta R mRNA and protein, ERK mRNA and protein, JNK protein and P 38 protein of HSCs, as well as between the model group and acupuncture group in the expression levels of JNK protein and P 38 protein of HSCs (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture intervention can effectively down-regulate serum PDGF content, and expression levels of PDGF-beta R mRNA and protein, ERK mRNA and protein of HSCs in liver fibrosis rats, which may contribute to its effect in improving liver fibrosis through down-regulating PDGF signal pathway activity.
authors: College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China. kongds0675@126.com
authors: De-Song
authors: DS
authors: Kong
authors: Jin
authors: J
authors: Ma
authors: Yin
authors: Y
authors: Lu
authors: Guang-Xia
authors: GX
authors: Ni
authors: Chun-Yan
authors: CY
authors: Ni
authors: Xue-Jiao
authors: XJ
authors: Zhang
authors: Ai-Yun
authors: AY
authors: Wang
authors: Wen-Xing
authors: WX
authors: Chen
authors: Shi-Zhong
authors: SZ
authors: Zheng
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases