scholarly journals 18α-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Down-Regulates Expression of Type I and III Collagen via TGF-Β1/Smad Signaling Pathway in Human and Rat Hepatic Stellate Cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 370-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Zong ◽  
Ying Qu ◽  
Ming-yi Xu ◽  
Yu-wei Dong ◽  
Lun-gen Lu
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (24) ◽  
pp. 13354
Author(s):  
Seita Kataoka ◽  
Atsushi Umemura ◽  
Keiichiro Okuda ◽  
Hiroyoshi Taketani ◽  
Yuya Seko ◽  
...  

Chronic liver injury may result in hepatic fibrosis, which can progress to cirrhosis and eventually liver failure. There are no drugs that are specifically approved for treating hepatic fibrosis. The natural product honokiol (HNK), a bioactive compound extracted from Magnolia grandiflora, represents a potential tool in the management of hepatic fibrosis. Though HNK has been reported to exhibit suppressive effects in a rat fibrosis model, the mechanisms accounting for this suppression remain unclear. In the present study, the anti-fibrotic effects of HNK on the liver were evaluated in vivo and in vitro. In vivo studies utilized a murine liver fibrosis model, in which fibrosis is induced by treatment with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). For in vitro studies, LX-2 human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were treated with HNK, and expression of markers of fibrosis, cell viability, the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β1)/SMAD signaling pathway, and autophagy were analyzed. HNK was well tolerated and significantly attenuated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in vivo. Moreover, HNK decreased HSC activation and collagen expression by downregulating the TGF-β1/SMAD signaling pathway and autophagy. These results suggest that HNK is a new potential candidate for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis through suppressing both TGF-β1/SMAD signaling and autophagy in HSCs.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 2568-2576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi-Pin Wu ◽  
Zhi Yang ◽  
Fu-Rong Li ◽  
Xiao-Di Liu ◽  
Hong-Tao Chen ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 1761-1774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Zhao ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
Ai-li Cao ◽  
Ming-Qian Jiang ◽  
Xia Chen ◽  
...  

Objective: Traditional Chinese Medicine compound HuangQi decoction is widely used in clinical treatment of chronic kidney disease, but its role on renal interstitial fibrosis and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of HuangQi decoction on renal interstitial fibrosis and its association with the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway Methods: A total of 120 C57/BL mice were randomly divided into six groups: sham group, sham plus high-dose HuangQi decoction (1.08g/kg) group, unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model group, and UUO model plus low to high doses of HuangQi decoction (0.12g/kg, 0.36g/kg and 1.08g/kg respectively) groups. Animals were sacrificed 14 days after the administration and ipsilateral kidney tissue was sampled for pathologic examinations. Immunohistochemistry, PCR and western blot were used to detect the expressions of related molecules in the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. TGF-β1 was used in in vitro experiments to induce human kidney proximal tubule epithelial cells (HK2). Results: HuangQi decoction improved ipsilateral kidney fibrosis in UUO mice and downregulated the expressions of TGF-β1, TβRI, TβRII, Smad4, Smad2/3, P-Smad2/3, α-SMA, collagen type I, III and IV in a dose-dependent manner while upregulated the expression of Smad7 in the same fashion. Similar results were found in in vitro studies. Conclusion: The protective effect of HuangQi decoction for unilateral ureteral obstruction kidney damage in mice was mediated by downregulating the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Zha Ru ◽  
Ying Hu ◽  
Shenghua Huang ◽  
Li Bai ◽  
Kun Zhang ◽  
...  

Background. Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a benign fibroproliferative skin disease resulting from an aberrant wound healing process and can cause aesthetic and functional damage to patients. Currently, there is no ideal treatment to treat this disease. Galangin, a natural active bioflavonoid compound, is suggested to inhibit fibrosis and proliferation in certain cells. Methods. In this study, we found Galangin could attenuate abnormal scar formation in an HS rabbit ear model. Additionally, the HE staining shows Galangin reduced scar elevation index (SEI) and Masson’s trichrome staining changed collagen deposition. Results. The expressions of type I collagen, type III collagen, and TGF-β1 were much lower under a proper dose of Galangin treatment, and Smad7 expression was also enhanced, which are examined by real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and western blot. Conclusion. Our data indicated that Galangin can alleviate dermal scarring via the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway probably by upregulating Smad 7 expression and, thus, suppressing the expression of type I and type III collagens and TGF-β1.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document