Effect Of TFL On The Expression Of TGF-β1 And CTGF Of Hepatic Fibrosis In Rats

Objective: To investigate the effect and its mechanism of total flavone of flavone of Litchi Chinensis Sonn (TFL) in rat model of liver fibrosis induced by bile duct occlusion.Methods: One hundred male SD rats (weight 250±20g) were divided into five groups: Sham–operated controls,model group,silymarin(SIL)-treated (50mg?Kg-1?d-1) group,TFL high-dose treatment (200mg?Kg-1?d-1) group,TFL low-dose treatment (100mg?Kg-1 ?d-1) group. Bile duct occlusive fibrosis model was prepared by bile duct ligation, whereas the sham-operated group was used as control. The second day after treatment, sham-operated group and model group were gavaged with normal saline (5ml?Kg-1?d-1). SIL -treated group was gavaged with SIL (50mg?Kg-1?d-1). TFL high-dose treatment group was gavaged with TFL (200mg?Kg-1?d-1). TFL low-dose treatment group was gavaged with TFL (100mg?Kg-1 ?d-1).After 4 weeks of treatment, the rats were sacrificed and the serum and liver tissue samples were collected.The serum level of hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN),Ⅲprocollagen (PCⅢ) was determined by RIA . The liver histopathology was observed with light microscopy after HE and masson staining . The stage of liver fibrosis of each group were assessed. The serum level of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF ) was determined by ELISA.The expressions of CTGF and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in liver tissue were assessed by immunohistochemical staining.Result: As compared with model group, the serum levels of HA,LN and PCⅢwere significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the liver fibrosis was significantly improved in the rats treated by high-dose TFL and SIL; the serum levels of CTGF were obviously decreased (P<0.05) and the expressions o f TGF-β1 and CTGF were decreased in the liver of the rats which were given high-dose TFL (P<0. 05). The serum levels of HA,LN and PCⅢhave no significantly difference between the TFL low-dose treatment group and model group (P>0.05) . And they have no significantly difference in the stages of liver fibrosis, the expressions of TGF-β1 and CTGF.Conclusion: TFL may play protective role in liver injury , and it can also inhibit liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation. To achieve its anti-fibrosis role TFL must reach a certain concentration . Anti-fibrosis mechanisms of TFL may be attributed to its effect of down regulating CTGF and TGF-β1.