title: [Expression of TGF-beta1/Smad protein in rat liver fibrosis model and the role of IFN-gamma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the impact of IFN-gamma on liver fibrosis and its possible mechanism. Thirty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: fibrosis model group, IFN-gamma treatment group. Experimental liver fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injection of CCl4. After 12-week-treatment, serum hyalurnic acid and TGF-beta1 was examined, histopathological changes and degrees of fibrosis were observed by optical microscopy. Meanwhile, the expression of TGF-beta1, TbetaR- I and Smad2/3 proteins was detected by immunohistochemistry and quantified by using computerized image analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) Pathological observation of hepatic specimens: histological examination showed that there were significant difference between normal group and fibrosis model group by comparing with the degrees of inflammation and fibrosis (P < 0.05). And the difference between fibrosis model group and IFN-gamma treatment group was significant (P < 0.05). (2) Changes of the hepatic fibrosis index (serum HA and TGF-beta1): the levels of serum HA, TGF-beta1 in fibrosis model group were higher than IFN-gamma treatment groups (P < 0.05). (3) Changes of gene protein levels about TGF-beta1/Smad: the expressions of TGF-beta1, TbetaR- I and Smad2/3 in rat hepatic tissue were detected with immunohistochemistry techniques. The expressions of the three items in model group were higher than normal group (P < 0.01). The difference between model group and IFN-gamma treatment group was significant (P < 0.05);
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IFN-gamma treatment group had significant results on treating experimental hepatic fibrosis. By the way of inhibiting expressions of TGF-beta1, TbetaR- I, Smad2/3, IFN-gamma treatment group exerted its anti-fibrosis effect.
authors.forename: Xiao-Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Shou-Rong
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jian-Chun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jian-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D007371:Interferon-gamma