title: Protein extracts of Crassostrea gigas alleviate CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats by reducing the expression of CTGF, TGF-β1 and NF-κB in liver tissues.
abstract: Hepatic fibrosis may contribute to liver carcinoma and the mortality of patients with hepatic fibrosis is gradually increasing. However, no definitive treatment has been established for hepatic fibrosis. The hepatic fibrotic process is reversible and can be controlled; therefore, the creation of novel and effective therapeutic methods to prevent or reverse the disease is required. The aim of the present study was to identify whether protein extracts from Pacific oysters (PEPO) could alleviate the hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4 and to examine the mechanisms involved. A total of sixty rats were randomly divided into the following experimental groups: The normal control group; the hepatic fibrosis model group; the high‑dose; medium‑dose; and low‑dose PEPO groups; and the colchicine group. The results indicated that compared with those of the model group, PEPO treatment significantly decreased the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ‑glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, hyaluronic acid, laminin, collagen type IV and procollagen III in rats with hepatic fibrosis. The hematoxylin and eosin staining demonstrated that PEPO markedly alleviated hepatic fibrosis. The experiments using immunohistochemistry, western blotting and quantitative PCR indicated that protein and mRNA expression levels of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ‑1) and nuclear factor κB (NF‑κB) in the liver tissues were significantly reduced by PEPO treatment. Therefore, it was concluded that PEPO successfully alleviated hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4 and reversed the effects of hepatotoxicity by regulating the serum levels of enzymes and decreasing the expression levels of CTGF, TGF‑β1 and NF‑κB in liver tissues. These findings may provide a novel treatment option for patients with hepatic fibrosis in the future.
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jue
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture Department, The Third Clinical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310035, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jie-Xue
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fang-Fang
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture Department, The Third Clinical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310035, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xian-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture Department, The Third Clinical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310035, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Rui-Jie
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture Department, The Third Clinical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310035, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jian-Qiao
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000009:adverse effects; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D049896:Crassostrea / Q000737:chemistry*; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029941:Fish Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride