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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 7, 2009; 15(37): 4720-4725
Published online Oct 7, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.4720
Correlation between anti-fibrotic effect of baicalin and serum cytokines in rat hepatic fibrosis
Xiao-Dong Peng, Li-Li Dai, Chang-Quan Huang, Chun-Mei He, Li-Juan Chen
Xiao-Dong Peng, Chang-Quan Huang, Chun-Mei He, Li-Juan Chen, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Xiao-Dong Peng, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637000, Sichuan Province, China
Li-Li Dai, Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
Author contributions: Peng XD and Dai LL contributed equally to this work; Peng XD, Dai LL, Huang CQ, He CM and Chen LJ designed the research; Peng XD and Huang CQ performed the research; Huang CQ contributed new reagents/analytic tools; Peng XD and Huang CQ analyzed the data; Peng XD, Huang CQ and Chen LJ wrote the paper.
Supported by Grants from National Key Technologies R&D Program of 11th five-year plan, 2009ZX09501-015
Correspondence to: Dr. Li-Juan Chen, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, 1# Keyuan Road 4, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. lijuanc2008@163.com
Telephone: +86-28-85164063 Fax: +86-28-85164063
Received: July 10, 2009
Revised: August 22, 2009
Accepted: August 29, 2009
Published online: October 7, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the correlation between the antifibrotic effect of baicalin and serum cytokine production in rat hepatic fibrosis.

METHODS: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into four groups: normal control group, model group, baicalin-treated group, and colchicine-treated group. Except for the normal control group, all rats in the other groups were administered with carbon tetrachloride to induce hepatic fibrosis. At the same time, the last two groups were also treated with baicalin or colchicine. At the end of the 8 wk, all animals were sacrificed. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 were measured. Liver index, hepatic hydroxyproline content and the degree of liver fibrosis were also evaluated.

RESULTS: The levels of ALT, AST and liver index in the baicalin-treated group were markedly lower than those in the model group (ALT: 143.88 ± 14.55 U/L vs 193.58 ± 24.35 U/L; AST: 263.66 ± 44.23 U/L vs 404.37 ± 68.29 U/L; liver index: 0.033 ± 0.005 vs 0.049 ± 0.009, P < 0.01). Baicalin therapy also significantly attenuated the degree of hepatic fibrosis, collagen area and collagen area percentage in liver tissue (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the levels of serum TGFβ1, TNF-α and IL-6 were strikingly reduced in the baicalin-treated group compared with the model group, while the production of IL-10 was up-regulated: (TGF-β1: 260.21 ± 31.01 pg/mL vs 375.49 ± 57.47 pg/mL; TNF-α: 193.40 ± 15.18 pg/mL vs 260.04 ± 37.70 pg/mL; IL-6: 339.87 ± 72.95 pg/mL vs 606.47 ± 130.73 pg/mL; IL-10: 506.22 ± 112.07 pg/mL vs 316.95 ± 62.74 pg/mL, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Baicalin shows certain therapeutic effects on hepatic fibrosis, probably by immunoregulating the imbalance between profibrotic and antifibrotic cytokines.

Keywords: Baicalin; Hepatic fibrosis; Hepatic stellate cell; Cytokines