Emodin Alleviates Liver Fibrosis of Mice by Reducing Infiltration of Gr1hi Monocytes.
Xiang-An ZhaoGuangmei ChenYong LiuHongyan WuJin ChenYali XiongChen TianBei JiaGuiyang WangJuan XiaYuxin ChenJian WangXiaomin YanZhaoping ZhangRui HuangChao WuPublished in: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (2018)
Emodin, as a major active component of Rheum palmatum L. and Polygonum cuspidatum, has been reported to have antifibrotic effect. However, the mechanism of emodin on antifibrotic effect for liver fibrosis was still obscure. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether emodin can alleviate carbon tetrachloride- (CCl4-) induced liver fibrosis through reducing infiltration of Gr1hi monocytes. Liver fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal CCl4 injection in mice. Mice in the emodin group received emodin treatment by gavage. Pretreatment with emodin significantly protected mice from liver inflammation and fibrosis revealed by the decreased elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as reduced hepatic necrosis and fibrosis by analysis of hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Masson staining, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and collagen-I immunohistochemistry staining. Further, compared to CCl4 group, mice in the emodin group showed significantly less intrahepatic infiltration of Gr1hi monocytes. Moreover, emodin significantly inhibited hepatic expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), granulin (GRN), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), and chemokine ligand 7 (CCL7), which was in line with the decreased numbers of intrahepatic Gr1hi monocytes. In conclusion, emodin can alleviate the degree of liver fibrosis by reducing infiltration of Gr1hi monocytes. These results suggest that emodin is a promising candidate to prevent and treat liver fibrosis.
Keyphrases
- liver fibrosis
- transforming growth factor
- dendritic cells
- high fat diet induced
- smooth muscle
- peripheral blood
- rheumatoid arthritis
- oxidative stress
- epithelial mesenchymal transition
- poor prognosis
- insulin resistance
- mouse model
- long non coding rna
- adipose tissue
- endothelial cells
- metabolic syndrome
- drug induced
- wound healing
- high glucose
- ultrasound guided
- stress induced
- tissue engineering