BACKGROUND/AIMS: The reactive oxygen species from thioacetamide (TAA) induces rat liver cirrhosis that resembles the human disease, and it can serve as a suitable animal model for studying human liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to identify the molecular protein signatures via a proteomics approach with using a rat model with TAA-induced liver cirrhosis. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were treated with 0.3 g/L TAA in their drinking water. The animals were then sacrificed at 9 and 30 weeks after TAA administration. The development of liver cirrhosis was observed with histological study. The livers were processed for proteins extraction and the proteins were analyzed by 2-dimensional electrophoresis. The proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionizing time-of-flight mass spectrometry and this was validated by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: On the proteomics analysis of the liver tissues, a total of 88 proteins showed significant change in their expression between the controls and the cirrhotic rats. When the proteins were categorized by their function, they included ECM/cellular skeleton, cell proliferation/death signal, metabolism, DNA damage/stress and immune response related proteins. The level of expression gradually increased up to 30 weeks for interleukin-6 (IL-6) precursor, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) induced protein, TIMP-1 and MMP-9. Cytochrome P450 2B, which is required for the metabolic activation of TAA, also showed the same increasing pattern. In contrast, the expression level of the proteins did not show a significant change at 9 weeks, but this increased to 3-fold at 30 weeks for carbonic anhydrase VII, ras related protein Rab 6, Annexin A2, neurofibromatosis type 2 and aldehyde dehydrogenase. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that there is a repertoire of proteins during the development of liver cirrhosis via TAA. In this model, IL-6, TGF-beta, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were reconfirmed as the molecular signatures during the development of TAA-induced liver cirrhosis.
Thioacetamide ; Rats, Wistar ; Rats ; Proteomics ; Proteins/*metabolism ; Male ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental/*metabolism ; Liver/*metabolism ; Animals

Animals ; Cyclophilins ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

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.

Animals ; Liver ; enzymology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic ; enzymology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; enzymology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo study the dynamic change of hepatic oval cells (HOC) in the process of rat liver cirrhosis formation induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), and to explore its pathophysiology significance.

METHODSA rat cirrhosis model was established by using DMN. Microscopical and electronmicroscopical changes of HOC were examined. Thy1.1 was detected by immunohistochemical method at different times. The ratio of HOC was checked using image pattern analysis and Western blot. The number of HOC was counted microscopically.

RESULTSAt the 4th week after DMN administration, the liver fibrosis was at its peak, with false lobules formation combined with large areas of hemorrhage and necrosis. The fibrosis started to minimize at the 6th week, and also the inflammatory changes at the 8th week. Thy1.1 positive stained cells dispersed at the 2nd week; increased at the 4th week around fiber septa; reached its peak at the 6th week, then decreased at the 8th week. The results of image pattern analysis, cell counting under light microscope and Western blot were constant, with the highest cell numbers at the 6th week, and dropped at the 8th week. The ultrastructure of HOC was characterized by their small sized, oval nuclei, and higher nucleus/plasma ratio.

CONCLUSIONDuring the formation and reduction of rat cirrhosis caused by DMN, Thy1.1 stained HOC showed notable dynamic change, which may play an important role in the cirrhotic process.

Animals ; Dimethylnitrosamine ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thy-1 Antigens ; metabolism

Angiotensinogen ; metabolism ; Animals ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renin-Angiotensin System

Animals ; Leptin ; pharmacology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

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.

Animals ; Benzofurans ; pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic expression of TPM1 in rat model of hepatic fibrosis and hepatic stellate cells induced by TGFβ1.

METHODThirty male SD rats were divided into control group (n = 6) and model group (n = 24). The rat model of hepatic fibrosis was established by intraperitoneal injection of dimethylnitrosamine(DMN). The sera were collected from portal vein and liver tissues were taken from animals 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks HSC-T6 cells were cultured and induced 48 hours by 5 ng/ml TGF-β1. The pathological changes of liver were observed by Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson Staining. Reverse Transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry and Western-blotting were used to determine the mRNA and protein expressions of TPM1, TGFβ1 and α-SMA in rat models and HSC-T6 cells and the localization of TPM1 in rat models.

RESULTSRat models of hepatic fibrosis were successfully established. TPM1 was lowly stained in the wall of blood vessels in portal areas in normal livers, in fibrotic livers TPM1 was mainly stained along the fibrotic septum. The mRNA and protein expressions of TPM1 and α-SMA in rat models of hepatic fibrosis increased at the week 2 and peaked at week 6, which was statistical significance compared to control group, P < 0.05; TGF-β1 increased at week 2 and it was higher than the levels in other groups at week 4, which was statistical significance compared to control group P < 0.05; Correlation analysis showed that TPM1 positively correlated with α-SMA and TGF-β1, rs = 0.688, rs = 0.692, P < 0.01. In HSC-T6, the mRNA expressions of TPM1 and α-SMA increased after being induced by TGF -beta1. compare with control group, the differences were significant, P less than 0.05.

CONCLUSIONTPM1 may be playing an important role in the occurrence and development of liver fibrosis. Maybe it could become a potential therapeutic target for hepatic fibrosis.

Animals ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tropomyosin ; metabolism

Animals ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male ; Proteome ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Animals ; Endostatins ; blood ; Estrogens ; therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar