The Treatment of Liver Fibrosis Induced by Hepatocyte Growth Factor-directed, Ultrasound-targeted Microbubble Destruction in Rats

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of using ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction to treat liver fibrosis induced by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF).

Methods: Forty Wistar rats were divided into five groups after the models of liver fibrosis were prepared: (1) HGF, ultrasound, and microbubbles (HGF+US/MB); (2) HGF and ultrasound (HGF+US); (3) HGF and microbubbles (HGF+MB); (4) HGF (HGF); and (5) model alone (MA). All rats were killed after being transfected for 14 days. Recovery of the liver was detect by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and pathological methods. Collagen I expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. Hepatocyte growth factor expression in the liver was detect by western blotting.

Results: The results of DWI and pathological examination showed the recovery of liver in HGF+US/MB group were better than those of other groups. In HGF+US/MB group, collagen I expression was less, and HGF protein was the highest among all the groups.

Conclusions: Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction could deliver HGF into the fibrotic liver and produce an antifibrosis effect, which could provide a novel strategy for gene therapy of liver fibrosis.