OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of salvianolic acid B (SAB), an extract from Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae, on expression of leucocyte differentiation antigen 14 (CD14) in the liver tissue of experimental rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis.

METHODSThirty SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, the model group, the treated group, and the control group. The pathological fibrosis changes in liver of rats were observed. Meantime, their liver function was detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. Serum content of endotoxin was assayed by matrix staining, and plasma content of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was detected by radioimmunoassay. mRNA and protein expressions of CD14 in the liver tissue were measured using reverse transcriptional-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry respectively.

RESULTSAll the laboratory parameters, including liver function, degree of liver fibrosis, serum endotoxin levels, plasma TNF-alpha contents, and CD14 mRNA and protein expressions in the model group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.01). All the aforesaid indices were lowered more in the treated group than in the model group (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSAB could antagonize the CCl4, induced liver fibrosis in rats. Its mechanism of action was possibly correlated with its effects on down-regulating hepatic CD14 expression and blocking the endotoxin signal transduction pathway.