Effects of Chinese traditional compound, JinSanE, on expression of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta1 type II receptor mRNA, Smad3 and Smad7 on experimental hepatic fibrosis in vivo.

Aim: The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)/Smad signaling pathway system plays a prominent role in the control of cell growth and extracellular matrix formation in the progression of liver fibrogenesis. Smad proteins can either positively or negatively regulate TGF-beta responses. In this study, the therapeutic effects of Chinese traditional compound decoction, JinSanE, and the changes of TGF-beta/Smad signaling pathway system in carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced rat experimental liver fibrosis were examined.

Methods: Seventy-two healthy Wistar rats were assigned to groups including normal control group, CCl(4) model group, JinSanE treatment group I and JinSanE treatment group II. Each group contained 18 rats. All groups, except the normal control group, received CCl(4) subcutaneous injection for 8 wk. Rats in JinSanE groups I and II were orally treated with JinSanE daily at the 1(st) and 5(th) wk, respectively, after exposure to CCl(4). The expression of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta1 type II receptor (TRII) mRNA in the liver was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and the expression of TGF-beta1, Smad3 and Smad7 by immunohistochemistry. The liver histopathology was also examined by HE staining and observed under electron microscope. The activities of several serum fibrosis-associated enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), the levels of serum hyaluronic acid (HA) were assayed.

Results: Hepatic fibrosis caused by CCl(4) was significantly inhibited in the JinSanE-treated groups. The degrees of necrosis/degeneration and fibrosis scores were significantly lower in the JinSanE-treated groups than in the model control group. The expression of TGF-beta1, TRII and Smad3 was significantly higher in the model group than that in the JinSanE-treated groups, and the active/total TGF-beta1 ratio in the JinSanE groups was suppressed. Expression of TRII mRNA and Smad3 proteins showed a distribution pattern similar to that of TGF-beta1 with a direct correlation in terms of the degree of hepatic fibrosis. The amount of positive staining Smad7 cells was significantly less in the model group than in the JinSanE-treated groups and the normal group. The contents of ALT, AST and HA were significantly lower in the JinSanE-treated groups than those in the model group.

Conclusion: Traditional Chinese medicine, JinSanE, prevents the progression of hepatic damage and fibrosis through the inhibition of TGF-beta1, TRII and Smad3 signal proteins, and increases expression of Smad7 signal protein in vivo.