title: Octreotide attenuates liver fibrosis by inhibiting hepatic heme oxygenase-1 expression.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of octreotide treatment on hepatic heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, together with the influence of altered hepatic HO-1 expression levels on hepatic function and fibrosis in bile duct-ligated rats. The rats were divided randomly into sham, cirrhotic, cobalt protoporphyrin and octreotide treatment groups. The expression levels of hepatic HO-1 mRNA were measured by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, while the protein expression was determined by western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis. Hematoxylin and eosin, and Van Gieson's staining, along with determination of the hydroxyproline content in the liver, were performed to determine the degree of liver fibrosis. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL) and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) in arterial blood, and the mean arterial pressure and portal vein pressure were also measured. As compared with the sham group, hepatic HO-1 mRNA and protein expression levels, serum levels of ALT, AST and TBIL, COHb in arterial blood, hydroxyproline and collagen type I content were all significantly increased in the cirrhotic group. As compared with the cirrhotic group, the octreotide-treated group exhibited significantly reduced hepatic HO-1 expression levels, serum levels of ALT, AST and TBIL, COHb in arterial blood and the extent of hepatic fibrosis, whereas the cobalt protoporphyrin group exhibited significantly increased hepatic HO-1 expression levels, as well as aggravated hepatic function and fibrosis (P<0.05). In conclusion, octreotide inhibited hepatic HO-1 overexpression in cirrhotic rats, reduced hepatic HO-1 expression levels to relieve liver injury and attenuated liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 0086-116011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shi-Bin
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 0086-116011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 0086-116011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 0086-116011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qiu-Ming
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 0086-116011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 0086-116011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006439:Hemodynamics; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D015282:Octreotide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D015282:Octreotide