title: Plumbagin Ameliorates CCl 4 -Induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Rats via the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Signaling Pathway.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its signaling molecules, EGFreceptor (EGFR) and signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 (STAT3), have been considered to play a role in liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Plumbagin (PL) is an extracted component from the plant and has been used to treat different kinds of cancer. However, its role in regulation of EGFR and STAT3 during liver fibrosis has not been investigated. In this study, the effects of PL on the regulation of EGFR and STAT3 were investigated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6). PL significantly attenuated liver injury and fibrosis in CCl4 treated rats. At concentrations of 2 to 6 μM, PL did not induce significant cytotoxicity of HSC-T6 cells. Moreover, PL reduced phosphorylation of EGFR and STAT3 in both fibrotic liver and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) treated HSC-T6 cells. Furthermore, PL reduced the expression of α-SMA, EGFR, and STAT3 in both fibrotic liver and HB-EGF treated HSC-T6 cells. In conclusion, plumbagin could ameliorate the development of hepatic fibrosis through its downregulation of EGFR and STAT3 in the liver, especially in hepatic stellate cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopathy, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, China.
authors.forename: Si
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatology, Department of Infectious Disease, Hepatology Institute of Wenzhou Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China.
authors.forename: Bi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatology, Department of Infectious Disease, Hepatology Institute of Wenzhou Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Jing
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatology, Department of Infectious Disease, Hepatology Institute of Wenzhou Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China.
authors.forename: Zhuo-Lin
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Guo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatology, Department of Infectious Disease, Hepatology Institute of Wenzhou Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China.
authors.forename: Zhuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatology, Department of Infectious Disease, Hepatology Institute of Wenzhou Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopathy, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, China.
authors.forename: Li-Yun
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopathy, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, China.
authors.forename: Yao-Ren
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatology, Department of Infectious Disease, Hepatology Institute of Wenzhou Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Da-Zhi
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Chen