title: [Inhibitory effect of flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza uralensis on expressions of TGF-β1 and Caspase-3 in thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the inhibitory effect of flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza uralensis on thioacetamide-induced chonic hepatic fibrosis in rats and the effect on the protein expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and Caspase-3 in livers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into totally seven groups: the normal control group, the model group, LF groups s (400, 200, 100, 50 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)) and the silymarin positive control group (30 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)). The hepatic fibrosis model was induced in the rats through intraperitoneal injection with 3% thioacetamide (TAA) at a dose of 150 mg · kg(-1) body weight twice a week for 12 weeks. During the course, the control group and the model group were orally administered with saline (1 mL · kg(-1) · d(-1)). After the modeling and drug intervention, the pathologic changes and fibrosis in liver tissues were observed by HE staining and Masson's Trichrome staining. The serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and liver hydroxyproline (HYP) contents were assayed by biochemical process. The serum hyaluronic acid (HA) was assessed by radioimmunoassay. In addition, the protein expressions of liver TGF-β1 and Caspase-3 were examined by immunohistochemical method. The mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in hepatic tissues was examined by quantitative Real-time PCR analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the model group, flavonoids can protect the integrity of the structure of liver tissues, significantly reduce the hepatic cell degeneration and necrosis and the proliferation of fibrous tissues, notably reduce the serum AST, ALT, ALP and HA and HYP in hepatic tissues and down-regulate the protein expressions of liver TGF-β1 and Caspase-3 and the mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in hepatic tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The licorice flavonoids can resist the thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. Its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of the protein expressions of TGF-β1 and Caspase-3.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Jin-ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Min-qiu
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Ya-fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ying-hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000032:analysis*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029882:Glycyrrhiza uralensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013853:Thioacetamide; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D013853:Thioacetamide; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3