| 18427963 |
Bahcecioglu IH, Koca SS, Poyrazoglu OK, Yalniz M, Ozercan IH, Ustundag B, Sahin K, Dagli AF, Isik A: Hepatoprotective effect of infliximab, an anti-TNF-alpha agent, on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis. Inflammation. 2008 Aug;31(4):215-21. Epub 2008 Apr 22.
To assess the effect of infliximab, an anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha agent, on the carbon tetrachloride (CCl (4))-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. Rats were randomized into three groups (n=9). The control group received only intraperitoneal (i.p.) olive oil. Hepatic fibrosis was induced by repeated i.p. injections of 1.5 ml/kg CCl (4) (1:3 mixture with olive oil) for 5 weeks in the remaining two groups which were also injected subcutaneous saline or 2 mg/kg infliximab. Infliximab reduced the levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase (p <0.05 for both). The scores of hepatic necrosis, inflammation and fibrosis, and expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin were lower in the infliximab-treated group than the CCI (4)-treated group (p <0.01, p <0.001, p <0.01, p <0.001, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in terms of liver tissue and plasma malondialdehyde, and serum TNF-alpha levels, while infliximab relatively reduced the level of transforming growth factor-beta (1) (373.0+/-153.1 vs. 280.8+/-127.1 pg/ml). Treatment with infliximab attenuated the necro-inflammation and fibrogenesis in the CCI (4)-induced hepatic fibrosis, and thus it might be effective as a therapeutic anti-fibrotic agent. |
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