Iron chelation by deferasirox confers protection against concanavalin A-induced liver fibrosis: A mechanistic approach

Hepatic iron overload is one of the causative factors for chronic liver injury and fibrosis. The present study aimed to investigate the potential antifibrotic effect of the iron chelator; deferasirox (DFX) in experimentally-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered concanavalin A (Con A) and/or DFX for 6 consecutive weeks. Con A injection induced significant hepatotoxicity as was evident by the elevated transaminases activity, and decreased albumin level. Also, it disturbed the iron homeostasis through increasing C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), decreasing phosphorylated cAMP responsive element binding protein(P-CREB) and hepcidin levels leading to significant serum and hepatic iron overload. In addition, it induced an imbalance in the oxidative status of the liver via upregulating NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), together with a marked decrease in anti-oxidant enzymes' activities. As a consequence, upregulation of nuclear factor-kappa b (NF-kappa B) and the downstream inflammatory mediators was observed. Those events all together precipitated in initiation of liver fibrosis as confirmed by the elevation of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and liver collagen content. Cotreatment with DFX protected against experimentally-induced liver fibrosis in rats via its iron chelating, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. These findings imply that DFX can attenuate the progression of liver fibrosis.