carthamine and Chemical-and-Drug-Induced-Liver-Injury

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) undergo activation during the development of liver fibrosis. Transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor (MEF2) 2C plays a key role in this process. In the present study, we investigated the effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) on hepatic fibrosis and further investigated potential mechanisms in vivo. Sprague-Dawley rats were administered with CCl(4) together with or without HYSA for 12 weeks. The effect of HYSA on hepatic fibrosis was evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin and Van Gieson staining. Messenger RNA expression was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and protein was quantified by Western blot or immunohistochemistry. Our results revealed that CCl(4) treatment induced micronodular hepatic fibrosis with a pronounced deposition of collagen fibers. Treatment with HYSA resulted in a significant decrease in fibrosis, protein expression of α-SMA, and MEF-2C gene expression. This was accompanied by a decreased expression of Tβ-RI, Tβ-RII, MEKK3, MEK5, and phosphorylation of ERk5. HYSA alone had no effect on the measured parameters. Our findings demonstrate that HSYA protected, at least in part, the rat liver from CCl(4)-caused fibrogenesis through inhibition of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation, attenuation of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling. HSYA may become a novel and promising agent for the inhibition of hepatic fibrosis.

Topics: Actins; Animals; Carbon Tetrachloride; Carthamus; Chalcone; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Collagen; Gene Expression; Hepatic Stellate Cells; Liver; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental; Male; MEF2 Transcription Factors; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 7; Myogenic Regulatory Factors; Phosphorylation; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Quinones; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction; Transforming Growth Factor beta