[Retracted] Intervention Study of Dictyophora Polysaccharides on Arsenic‐Induced Liver Fibrosis in SD Rats

Abstract

Long-term arsenic (As) exposure can cause liver injury, hepatic cirrhosis, and cancer. Meanwhile, Dictyophora polysaccharides (DIP) have excellent antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and immune protection effects. There are currently few reports on the protection effects of DIP on As-induced hepatotoxicity and its pharmacological value. Therefore, this study was aimed at elucidating the protection of DIP on As-induced hepatotoxicity and exploring its preventive role in antifibrosis. In our study, the SD rat As poisoning model was established by the feeding method to explore the influence of As exposure on liver fibrosis. Then, DIP treatment was applied to the rats with As-induced liver fibrosis, and the changes of serum biochemical indexes and liver tissue pathology were observed. And the expression of fibrosis-related proteins TGF-β1, CTGF, and α-SMA levels was then determined to explore the DIP intervention function. The results demonstrated that through reduced pathological changes of hepatic and increased serum AST, ALT, TP, ALB, and A/G levels, DIP ameliorated liver fibrosis induced by As as reflected. And the administration of DIP decreased the concentration of HA, LN, PCIII, CIV, TBIL, and DBIL. In addition, the synthesis of TGF-β1 inhibited by DIP might regulate the expression of CTGF and decrease the proliferation of fibrinogen and fibroblasts, which reduced the synthesis of fibroblasts to transform into myofibroblasts. And a decrease of myofibroblasts downregulated the expression of α-SMA, which affected the synthesis and precipitation of ECM and alleviated the liver fibrosis caused by exposure to As. In conclusion, based on the pathological changes of liver tissue, serum biochemical indexes, and related protein expression, DIP can improve the As-induced liver fibrosis in rats and has strong medicinal value.

An update on animal models of liver fibrosis

“…Free radicals subsequently induce lipid peroxidation, which may lead to cellular dysfunction or directly attack cells, triggering their damage ( 51 ). Repeated damage and repair of hepatocytes leads to liver fibrosis ( 52 ). As exposure causes liver injury in rats and liver fibrosis increases with increasing dose and time ( 53 ).…”

“…Arsenite exposure induced HSC activation and extracellular matrix deposition, and long-term exposure to arsenite induced liver damage, inflammation, and fibrosis in mice or rats (54)(55)(56). Wang et al (52) fed SD rats at a high dose of 100 mg/kg and exposed to sodium arsenite, cell swelling, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrous proliferation were evident.…”

The Regulatory Roles of Polysaccharides and Ferroptosis-Related Phytochemicals in Liver Diseases

“…O. lanpingensis polysaccharides (OLP) and Dictyophora polysaccharides could significantly decrease the accumulation of ECM and collagen by upregulating MMPs and collagenase expression, which are essential for collagenolysis [ 64 , 65 ]. Quiescent HSCs play important roles in the progression of liver fibrosis because active HSC can transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts, which produce ECM [ 62 ].…”

Retracted: Intervention Study of Dictyophora Polysaccharides on Arsenic-Induced Liver Fibrosis in SD Rats

“…This article has been retracted by Hindawi following an investigation undertaken by the publisher [ 1 ]. This investigation has uncovered evidence of one or more of the following indicators of systematic manipulation of the publication process: Discrepancies in scope Discrepancies in the description of the research reported Discrepancies between the availability of data and the research described Inappropriate citations Incoherent, meaningless and/or irrelevant content included in the article Manipulated or compromised peer review …”

“…This article has been retracted by Hindawi following an investigation undertaken by the publisher [1]. This investigation has uncovered evidence of one or more of the following indicators of systematic manipulation of the publication process:…”