Effects of Taohongsiwu decoction on the expression of α-SMA and TGF-β1 mRNA in the liver tissues of a rat model of hepatic cirrhosis

Abstract

The present study aimed to explore the treatment effects of Taohongsiwu decoction on the liver fibrosis in a rat model, as few prior studies have investigated the anti-fibrotic effects of Taohongsiwu decoction. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure the concentration of ferulic acid and hydrosafflower flavin A in the decoction. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, model, colchicine (positive group), Taohongsiwu-high, Taohongsiwu-moderate and Taohongsiwu-low groups; 50% carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) of peanut oil solution was subcutaneously injected to the rats except for the control group, and the drugs were intragastrically administered (10 ml/kg) starting at week 7 for 6 continuous weeks. The rats were deprived of food but not water for 12 h following the final administration, then blood was collected from the abdominal aorta. The liver tissues were obtained, fixed with 10% neutral formaldehyde, and embedded with paraffin. The concentrations of ferulic acid and hydroxysafflor flavin A in Taohongsiwu decoction were 0.12 and 0.57 mg/ml, respectively. The three groups treated with Taohongsiwu decoction were found with significantly lower serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine amino transferase, collagen IV and hyaluronic acid, as well as higher level of albumin (ALB); in addition, the expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) mRNA and collagen I were significantly downregulated. Taohongsiwu decoction improved the liver function, reduced the collagen deposition in the serum and liver tissues, and inhibited the expression of α-SMA and TGF-β1.

miR‑148a‑3p regulates alcoholic liver fibrosis through targeting ERBB3

“…It is a tissue repair process observed in various chronic liver injuries, and can result in cirrhosis in severe cases (49,50). Increased α-SMA and type I collagen expression levels are important markers of liver fibrosis (51), and according to the results of the present study, miR-148a-3p treatment markedly inhibited α-SMA and type I collagen expression levels in the ALF rats, indicating that miR-148a-3p can improve liver fibrosis caused by alcohol.…”

The Potential Protective Effect of Oligoribonucleotides-d-Mannitol Complexes against Thioacetamide-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice

“…Therefore, in the model of acute TAA-induced liver injury, the activation of stellate liver cells was also described as a critical event by us and others [ 35 , 36 ]. Activated hepatic stellate cells are capable of ECM overproduction, including collagen I and III, hyaluronic acid and laminin, decreasing the collagenase activity and collagen degradation [ 37 , 38 ]. Expression of α-SMA is a representative sign of activated stellate liver cells.…”

Angelica sinensis Polysaccharide Alleviates Myocardial Fibrosis and Oxidative Stress in the Heart of Hypertensive Rats

“…As previous studies reported, increased α-SMA and collagen I expression levels are important markers of liver fibrosis [20]. TGF-β1, as a major fibrogenic factor, could promote the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and lung fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation [21].…”