Expression of ASMase in alcoholic liver fibrosis in rats.

Author: Mi WANG ¹ ; Qin-fang CAO ; Ping LIU ; Xiao-dan LU ; Shu-juan ZHANG ; Wang-xian TANG ; Cui-huan WU
Author Information

1. Institute of Liver Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
MeSH: Animals; Liver; enzymology; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic; enzymology; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental; enzymology; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase; metabolism
From: Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2013;21(12):920-923
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of the lysosomal enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) in alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis using a rat model.
METHODSThe model of liver fibrosis was induced by administration of alcohol and high fat diet using 20 rats. Six rats given no alcohol and normal diet served as the control group. Real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate fibrosis-related changes in the mRNA and protein expressions of ASMase.
RESULTSThe fibrotic liver tissues of the model rats showed significantly higher expression levels of ASMase than the non-fibrotic liver tissues of the control rats (P less than 0.05).
CONCLUSIONExpression of ASMase is increased in the fibrotic liver tissue of an alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis rat model, suggesting that this lysosomal enzyme may contribute to development of this disease condition.