Effect of the regulation of retinoid X receptoraI- gene expression on rat hepatic fibrosis

• Published in: Hepatology research 2011-05, Vol.41 (5), p.475-483
• Main Authors: Wang, Zheng, Xu, Jiapeng, Zheng, Yongchao, Chen, Wei, Sun, Yongwei, Wu, Zhiyong, Luo, Meng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Indexing in process
• ISSN: 1386-6346; 1872-034X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034X.2011.00794.x

Aim: To study the effect of retinoid X receptor- alpha (RXR- alpha ) expression on rat hepatic fibrosis. Methods: Rat hepatic fibrosis was induced by CCl4, and the rats were randomly divided into an early-phase hepatic fibrosis group (2weeks) and a sustained hepatic fibrosis group (8weeks). They were then divided into four groups (normal control, hepatic fibrosis, negative control and RXR- alpha groups). A recombinant lentiviral expression vector carrying the rat RXR- alpha gene was injected into the rats to induce RXR- alpha expression by intraportal infusion, hepatic tissue pathological examination was performed, and hydroxyproline content was detected. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) were cultured in vitro, an RXR- alpha lentivirus vector was used to activate HSC, and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5&#820 8; diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) activation was assayed to detect HSC proliferation. Results:In vivo experiments indicated that in the sustained hepatic fibrosis group, there were significant differences in the hydroxyproline content, and expression of RXR- alpha , alpha -smooth muscle actin ( alpha -SMA) and type I collagen (P0.05). In vitro studies revealed that expression of RXR- alpha significantly inhibited expression of alpha -SMA and type I collagen in activated HSC (P