BACKGROUND: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) play important roles in liver fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Dan-shao-hua-xian, a preparation of traditional Chinese medicine, on the expression of PPAR-γ and NF-κB in the fibrotic livers of rats.
METHODS: Seventy Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: treatment (model, 8 weeks+treatment, 8 weeks; group A), natural recovery (model, 8 weeks+ saline, 8 weeks; group B), model (model only, 8 weeks; group C), and control (normal, untreated, 16 weeks; group D). Each group consisted of 20 rats (except for group D, which had 10). Fibrotic liver models were induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of CCl4, oral administration of alcohol and a high-lipid/low-protein diet for 8 weeks. After the models were established, the rats in group A were orally given Dan-shao-hua-xian capsules daily for another 8 weeks. Then, the liver indices serum hyaluronic acid (HA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured. The degree of hepatic fibrosis was evaluated by optical microscopy. Hydroxyproline (Hyp) in the liver tissue was determined. The expression of PPAR-γ was detected by immunohistochemical techniques. The protein levels of PPAR-γ and NF-κB were determined by Western blotting.
RESULTS: The concentrations of serum HA, TNF-α and Hyp in group C increased compared with group D (P<0.05), and they decreased in group A compared with group C (P<0.05). The expression of PPAR-γ in group C decreased compared with group D (P<0.05), and it increased in group A compared with groups B and C (P<0.05). Similarly, Western blotting showed that the expression of PPAR-γ in group C decreased compared with group D, and it increased in group A compared with group C. The expression of NF-κB increased in group C compared with group D (P<0.05), and it decreased in group A compared with group C (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Dan-shao-hua-xian capsules enhance the expression of PPAR-γ but decrease that of TNF-α and NF-κB in the liver tissues of CCl4-induced hepatic fibrotic rats. These effects may play a role in its activity in treating hepatic fibrosis.