Protective effects of thymosin β4 on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats

Thymosin beta 4 (T beta 4) plays a role in fibrosis, inflammation, and in the reparative process of injured cells and tissues. Here, we discuss our preliminary work on the protective effect of T beta 4 on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute hepatotoxicity. Our studies thus far indicate that T beta 4 can prevent necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, and upregulation of alpha 1(and 2) collagen, alpha-SMA, PDGF-beta receptor, and fibronectin mRNA expression; in addition, T beta 4 can prevent downregulation of PPAR gamma and upregulation of MECP2 mRNA levels in acute liver injury. Our initial work therefore indicates that T beta 4 can prevent the alteration of markers of hepatic stellate cell transdifferentiation, which suggests that T beta 4 could maintain the quiescent phenotypic state of hepatic stellate cells in the rat livers by restoring PPAR gamma and downregulating MeCP2 expression levels. More specifically, these preliminary studies suggest that T beta 4 might be an effective anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic drug for the treatment of liver fibrogenesis.