Application of TGF-β1, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 Small Interfering RNAs Can Alleviate CCl-induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Rats by Rebalancing Th1/Th2 Cytokines

Overview

Journal Exp Ther Med

Specialty Pathology

Date 2021 Aug 2

PMID 34335905

Citations 2

Authors

Ying Xue

Keli Qian

Yinchun Sun

Lang Xiao

Xiaofeng Shi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of TGF-β1, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 small interfering (si)RNA and TIMP-2 siRNA on hepatic fibrosis in rats and explore the T helper (Th)1/Th2 balance. Moreover, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-13 are the main cytokines associated with Th1/Th2 responses and have significant influence on the progression of hepatic fibrosis. The expression levels of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-13 in rats with hepatic fibrosis that were treated with siRNAs against the aforementioned molecules were measured using various techniques including immunohistochemical staining, western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The principal outcomes revealed the downregulation of IFN-γ and the upregulation of IL-4 and IL-13 in the model group compared with the normal group. Moreover, the expression of IFN-γ was significantly increased, while IL-4 and IL-13 demonstrated no significant difference in the TGF-β1 siRNA treatment group compared with the model group. The TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 siRNA treatment groups exhibited significantly increased expression levels of IFN-γ, but lower expression levels of IL-4 and IL-13 compared with the model group. These results indicated that TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were improved antifibrotic targets compared with TGF-β1.

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