title: Anti‑fibrotic effects of Acremoniumterricola milleretal mycelium on immunological hepatic fibrosis in rats.
abstract: Acremoniumterricola milleretal mycelium (AMM) exerts numerous protective effects on organs, and has been used in Chinese herb prescriptions to treat refractory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of AMM on immunological hepatic fibrosis induced by porcine serum (PS) in rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were administered 0.5 ml sterile PS by intraperitoneal injections twice a week for 18 weeks. AMM (175, 350 or 700 mg/kg) and colchicine (0.1 mg/kg) were administered intragastrically each day until the rats were sacrificed. PS administration resulted in marked hepatic fibrosis, as assessed by increased oxidative stress and hepatic collagen content, as well as α‑smooth muscle actin (α‑SMA) expression. AMM significantly reduced liver damage and fibrosis. In addition, AMM decreased the elevation in hydroxyproline, hyaluronic acid, laminin and procollagen type III; increased the activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase; decreased α‑SMA expression; and eliminated hepatic collagen deposits. Furthermore, AMM inhibited Smad2/3 phosphorylation and Smad7 expression. These results indicate that AMM is able to reduce oxidative stress, inhibit collagen synthesis and block the transforming growth factor‑β/Smad signaling pathway in a dose‑dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wang-Yang
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wei-Zu
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yan-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000164:Acremonium / Q000737:chemistry*; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D003094:Collagen; D024061:Collagen Type III; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D006909:Hydroxyproline; D007797:Laminin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051785:Smad Proteins; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat