title: Anti-fibrotic effects of the Masson pine pollen aqueous extract on hepatic fibrosis rat model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the antifibrotic effects of Masson Pine Pollen aqueous extract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control (CG), hepatic fibrosis model (MG), MPPAE low dose (LG), MPPAE high dose (HG), and MPP original powder (MPPOP; OG) groups. Each group was treated with specific protocols and sacrificed 8 weeks later. Multiple indicators such as serum transaminase, HE staining of the liver tissue, and relevant indexes to fibrosis were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Severe hyperplasia of fibrous connective tissues was observed in livers of the MG group rats, while aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase levels and collagen content obviously increased, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and MMPs expression decreased, malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine concentrations increased, while mRNA expressions of hepatic stellate cell (HSC)-related cytokines such as transforming growth factor-β1 and platelet-derived growth factor, transcription factors such as nuclear factor-κB p65, and signaling protein α-smooth muscle actin were all increased significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MPPAE effectively inhibited the fibrotic process in this CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis rat model. It may be associated with synergic functions of antioxidant activity, inhibitory activity on HSC proliferation, collagen synthesis, and MMPs expression induction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Institute of Health and Environmental Medicine Tianjin 300050, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cong
authors.affiliation: International Center for Liver Disease Treatment, 302 Hospital of PLA Beijing 100039, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Yuan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, General Hospital of P.L.A Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: The Second Artilery General Hospital of P.L.A Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: The Experimental Animals Center, 302 Military Hospital of China Beijing 100039, China.
authors.forename: Rui-Sheng
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: International Center for Liver Disease Treatment, 302 Hospital of PLA Beijing 100039, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Institute of Health and Environmental Medicine Tianjin 300050, China.
authors.forename: Chang-Jiang
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011058:Pollen; D011208:Powders; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011208:Powders; D003094:Collagen; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases
keywords: CCl4; Masson pine pollen aqueous extract; antioxidant; hepatic fibrosis; matrix metalloproteinase