title: Modulation of thioacetamide-induced hepatic inflammations, angiogenesis and fibrosis by andrographolide in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Liver fibrosis is a complex disease in which several pathological processes, such as inflammation and angiogenesis, are closely integrated.
  
  
  METHODS
  We hypothesised that treatment with the pharmacological agent, andrographolide (AP), which has multiple mechanisms of action, will provide a greater understanding of the role of AP during the multiple pathological processes that occur in advanced liver disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Liver fibrogenesis was induced in mice using thioacetamide (TAA), which was administrated for 6 weeks. Andrographolide (5, 20 or 100mg/kg) was then given once daily following TAA injection. Liver collagen was examined using hydroxyproline and α-SMA, while the inflammatory response was quantified by Western blot and RT-PCR assays. Liver angiogenesis, neutrophil infiltration and hypoxia were assessed using CD11b+, vWF and HIF-1α immunostaining. Mice with liver injuries that were treated with andrographolide showed improved inflammatory response and diminished angiogenesis and hepatic fibrosis. Andrographolide treatment inhibited liver neutrophil infiltration, while a decreased in TNF-α and COX-2 signalling indicated macrophage activation. Andrographolide decreased overall liver hypoxia, as shown by the downregulation of hypoxia-inducible cascade genes, such as VEGF. Andrographolide treatment resulted in a significant decrease in hepatic fibrogenesis, α-SMA abundance, and TGF-βR1 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results suggest that multi-targeted therapies directed against angiogenesis, inflammation, and fibrosis should be considered for the treatment of advanced liver injury. They further suggest that andrographolide treatment may be a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan. Electronic address: joyamen@mail.cgu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Tzung-Yan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan; Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hen-Hong
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chorng-Kai
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan; Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tse-Hung
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ya-Shu
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013853:Thioacetamide / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D013853:Thioacetamide; C030419:andrographolide
keywords: (PubChem CID: 5318571); Andrographolide; Angiogenesis; Fibrogenesis; Inflammation