title: Yin-Chen-Hao-Tang alleviates biliary obstructive cirrhosis in rats by inhibiting biliary epithelial cell proliferation and activation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Yin-Chen-Hao-Tang (YCHT) consists of three aqueous extracts from Artemisia capillaris, Gardenia sp., and prepared Rheum rhabarbarum (rhubarb) (3:2:1). YCHT is characterized by its anti-inflammatory properties in liver regulation and relief of jaundice. We aimed to study the effects and mechanisms of action of YCHT on biliary obstructive cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary biliary fibrosis was induced in rats by bile duct ligation (BDL) and scission. One week after BDL, rats were randomly divided into a saline-treated BDL or YCHT-treated BDL group for 4 weeks. Liver function and hepatic hydroxyproline (Hyp) content were assessed. Types I and IV collagen (Col-IV), laminin, fibronectin, alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression were assessed with immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the YCHT-treated BDL group, serum total bilirubin, total bile acids, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and γ-glutamyl transferase were lower than those in the sham-operated BDL group. The proliferation of bile ducts in hepatic tissues and the Hyp content and Col deposition were also significantly lower than those in control rats. In addition, α-SMA and Col-IV staining was less obvious, and mRNA expression of Procol-α1 (IV), platelet derived growth factor subunit B (PDGF)-B, connective tissue growth factor, and transforming growth factor-beta in proliferative biliary epithelial cells (BECs) in the YCHT-treated BDL group was significantly lower than those in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  YCHT effectively reduces the formation of biliary obstructive cirrhosis mainly via inhibition of BEC proliferation by down-regulation of PDGF-B mRNA expression, inhibition of BEC profibrogenic paracrines, and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathological process.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China ; Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China ; E-Institute of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Ming-Yu
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China.
authors.forename: Ai-Hua
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China ; E-Institute of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China.
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China ; E-Institute of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Qin
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China.
authors.forename: Xiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Tu
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China ; E-Institute of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-Hai
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China ; E-Institute of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Biliary epithelium cells; Yin-Chen-Hao-Tang; biliary obstructive cirrhosis; platelet derived growth factor subunit B
references.citation: Hepatology. 2007 Jan;45(1):242-9
references.pmid: 17187439
references.citation: Chin Med. 2008 Jan 31;3:1
references.pmid: 18237412
references.citation: Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 2009 Oct-Nov;33(10-11):949-57
references.pmid: 19726145
references.citation: Gastroenterology. 1990 Aug;99(2):466-77
references.pmid: 1694804
references.citation: Hepatology. 1996 Mar;23(3):552-9
references.pmid: 8617437
references.citation: Histopathology. 1994 Aug;25(2):143-50
references.pmid: 7527010
references.citation: J Clin Gastroenterol. 2005 Apr;39(4 Suppl 2):S90-S102
references.pmid: 15758666
references.citation: J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2012 May;341(2):307-16
references.pmid: 22271822
references.citation: J Hepatol. 2004 Aug;41(2):242-50
references.pmid: 15288473
references.citation: J Hepatol. 2000;32(1 Suppl):141-56
references.pmid: 10728801
references.citation: Anal Biochem. 1981 Mar 15;112(1):70-5
references.pmid: 7258630
references.citation: Hepatology. 2007 Apr;45(4):977-81
references.pmid: 17393507
references.citation: BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012 Apr 03;12 :33
references.pmid: 22471627
references.citation: J Hepatol. 2003 Jun;38(6):762-9
references.pmid: 12763369
references.citation: J Hepatol. 2004 Oct;41(4):584-91
references.pmid: 15464238
references.citation: Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2011 Apr;25(2):195-206
references.pmid: 21497738
references.citation: Hepatology. 2004 Jan;39(1):167-78
references.pmid: 14752835
references.citation: Histochem Cell Biol. 1997 May;107(5):399-409
references.pmid: 9208331
references.citation: J Clin Invest. 2004 Jan;113(1):137-43
references.pmid: 14702117
references.citation: Am J Pathol. 2006 May;168(5):1500-12
references.pmid: 16651617
references.citation: Hepatol Res. 2008 Sep;38(9):919-29
references.pmid: 18371158
references.citation: J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Jan 19;109(2):318-24
references.pmid: 16989967
references.citation: Annu Rev Pathol. 2011;6:425-56
references.pmid: 21073339
references.citation: Lab Invest. 2010 Dec;90(12):1805-16
references.pmid: 20921949