[Effects of exogenous HS on hepatic fibrosis in diabetic mice and its mechanism].

Objective: To investigate the effects of exogenous hydrogen sulfide (HS) on the hepatic fibrosis in diabetic mice and its mechanism.

Methods: Twenty-four C57 male mice (weight 22±2 g) were randomly divided into three groups (=8): ① Normal control group (Control): Mice were intraperitoneally injected equal amount of normal saline, the injection time was the same as that of the experimental groups; ② Diabetes model groups (HG): Streptozotocin (STZ) was injected intraperitoneally once according to body weight (150 mg/kg) to establish diabetes model; ③ NaHS treatment groups (HG + NaHS): Mice were intraperitoneally injected with NaHS (100 μmol/L·kg·d) once a day for 12 consecutive weeks. The hepatocyte injury was detected by HE staining; the hepatic fibrosis was observed through Masson staining; the protein expressions of cystathionine - β - synthetase (CBS), collagen-I (CoL-I), collagen-III (CoL-III) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were detected by Western blot.

Results: Compared with the control group, the damage and fibrosis of hepatocyte were significantly aggravated, the expression of CBS proteins was decreased (＜0.01), and the expression levels of CoL-I, CoL-III and MMP-9 proteins were increased (＜0.01) in the diabetic model group. Compared with the diabetic model group, the damage and fibrosis of hepatocyte were significantly lightened, the expression of CBS proteins was obviously increased (＜0.01), and the expression levels of CoL-I, CoL-III and MMP-9 proteins were markedly decreased (＜ 0.01).

Conclusion: HS inhibits the hepatic fibrosis in diabetic mice, and its mechanism is related to the decrease of collagen and matrix metalloproteinase-9.