title: [Expression of ASMase in alcoholic liver fibrosis in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of the lysosomal enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) in alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis using a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The model of liver fibrosis was induced by administration of alcohol and high fat diet using 20 rats. Six rats given no alcohol and normal diet served as the control group. Real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate fibrosis-related changes in the mRNA and protein expressions of ASMase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fibrotic liver tissues of the model rats showed significantly higher expression levels of ASMase than the non-fibrotic liver tissues of the control rats (P less than 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of ASMase is increased in the fibrotic liver tissue of an alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis rat model, suggesting that this lysosomal enzyme may contribute to development of this disease condition.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Liver Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Mi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qin-fang
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-dan
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Shu-juan
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wang-xian
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Cui-huan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000201:enzymology*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase