Hepatoprotective effects of selenium-biofortified soybean peptides on liver fibrosis induced by tetrachloromethane

The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of selenium-biofortified soybean peptides (SSPs) in liver fibrosis induced by tetrachloromethane (CCl4) in rats. SSPs was found to remarkably attenuate the liver fibrosis by inhibiting a-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) synthesis in the liver, and increasing the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9). Additionally, aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities in serum decreased, while the glutathione (GSH) content and the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity increased significantly (p < 0.05) after the treatment with SSPs. Histology results showed that both inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrosis area were decreased by SSPs treatment. SeCys, which was the active center of GSH-Px, was identified in some Se-peptides from SSPs. Thus, SSPs can attenuate the liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 by improving the GSH-Px synthesis and increasing the MMP9 mRNA expression level.