title: Multitargeted inhibition of hepatic fibrosis in chronic iron-overloaded mice by Salvia miltiorrhiza.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM, also known as Danshen) is a well-known Chinese medicinal herb, which has shown hepatoprotective effects with anti-fibrotic, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. To explore the effects and potential mechanism of SM against hepatic fibrosis induced by chronic iron overload in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty male mice were randomized into five groups (n=12 in each group): control (saline), iron overload, iron overload with low-dose SM (3g/kg/day), iron overload with high-dose SM (6g/kg/day) and iron overload with deferoxamine (100mg/kg/day) groups. The iron overload model was established by intraperitoneal injection with iron dextran at 50mg/kg body weight/day, and the entire course lasted for 7 weeks. The major constituents of SM injection were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. Changes of hepatic iron, hydroxyproline (Hyp), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assayed by standard procedures. Protein expression levels of type I collagen, type III collagen, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1α (IL-1α) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and mRNA levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), matrix metal proteinase-9 (MMP-9) and caspase-3 were detected by RT-PCR. Morphological changes were observed with Prussian blue, Masson's trichrome and hematoxylin-eosin staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment of chronic iron-overloaded mice with SM dose-dependently ameliorated changes in hepatic morphology and coefficient, reduced iron deposition and Hyp content, suppressed overexpression of type I collagen and type III collagen, downregulated expression of TGF-β mRNA, and upregulated expression of MMP-9 mRNA in the liver. Moreover, SM treatment contributed to decreased MDA content, increased SOD activity and GSH content, while it reduced expression of TNF-α, IL-1α and caspase-3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SM displayed anti-fibrotic activity in the liver induced by chronic iron overload, which may be attributed to multitargeted inhibition of iron deposition and collagen accumulation, as well as oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, 326, Xinshi South Road, Shijiazhuang 050091, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Yonggang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Juanjuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jiangyan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D006909:Hydroxyproline