Journal
JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
Volume 34, Issue 1, Pages 263-276Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/jgh.14299
Keywords
autophagy; liver fibrosis; shikonin; TGF-beta 1/Smads pathway
Categories
Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [81670472, 81500466, 81700502, 81570578]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background and Aim Liver fibrosis is a worldwide clinical challenge during the progression of chronic liver disease to liver cirrhosis. Shikonin is extracted from the root of Lithospermum erythrorhizon with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and wound-healing properties. The study aims to investigate the protective effect of shikonin on liver fibrosis and its underlying mechanism. Methods Two liver fibrosis models were established in male C57 mice by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 or bile duct ligation. Shikonin was administered orally three times weekly at a dose of 2.5 or 5 mg/kg. Protein and mRNA expressions were assayed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining. Results Shikonin significantly inhibited activation of hepatic stellate cells and extracellular matrix formation by downregulating the transforming growth factor-beta 1 expression and maintaining the normal balance between metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1. Shikonin also decreased hepatic stellate cell energy production by inhibiting autophagy. Conclusions The results confirmed that shikonin attenuated liver fibrosis by downregulating the transforming growth factor-beta 1/Smads pathway and inhibiting autophagy.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available