| 18506890 |
Aram G, Potter JJ, Liu X, Torbenson MS, Mezey E: Lack of inducible nitric oxide synthase leads to increased hepatic apoptosis and decreased fibrosis in mice after chronic carbon tetrachloride administration. Hepatology. 2008 Jun;47(6):2051-8.
The role of nitric oxide (NO) in liver injury and fibrosis is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine whether inducible NO synthase deficiency (iNOS (-/-)) affects liver injury and fibrosis produced in mice by chronic carbon tetrachloride (CCl (4)) administration. Wild-type (WT) or iNOS (-/-) mice were subjected to biweekly CCl (4) injections over 8 weeks, whereas controls were given isovolumetric injections of olive oil. Serum aminotransferases were lower after CCl (4) in the iNOS (-/-) than in the WT mice, which correlated with decreased necrosis on liver histology. There was increased apoptosis, a lower number of stellate cells, and a lesser degree of fibrosis after CCl (4) in the iNOS (-/-) as compared with the WT mice. alpha (1)(I) collagen messenger RNA (mRNA) was markedly increased after CCl (4) in the WT and to a significantly lesser extent in the iNOS (-/-) mice. Liver matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) mRNA and MMP-2 mRNA were increased more in the WT than in the iNOS (-/-) mice after CCl (4). Also tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) mRNA was increased to a much greater extent in the WT than in the iNOS (-/-) mice after CCl (4) (P < 0.05). However, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 protein, determined by western blot, were similarly increased after CCl (4) in both groups of mice. CONCLUSION: NO protects against CCl (4)-induced apoptosis. In the absence of iNOS, there is decreased necrosis, increased apoptosis, and reduced liver fibrosis. |
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