Effect of total flavone from Litchi chinensis Sonn. on the expressions of NF-κB and MMP-2 in rats with hepatic fibrosis

Abstract:

Objective：To observe the levels of nuclear transcription factors-κB（NF-κB） and matrix metalloproteinases-2（MMP-2） in the liver tissues of rats with hepatic fibrosis and to explore the anti-hepatic fibrosis mechanism of total flavone from Litchi chinensis Sonn.（TFL）. Methods：Rats were randomized into normal control group，model group，TFL high dose group，TFL low dose group and colchicine group. Rat model of hepatic fibrosis was established by intraperitoneal injection of dimethylnitrosamine for 4 weeks. At the same time，TFL was orally given to fibrosis rats at a dose of 100 or 200 mg/（kg·d），colchicine was administrated intragastrically at a dose of 0.1 mg/（kg·d） and equal amount of normal saline was given to rats in normal control group and model group. After 6 weeks，all rats were sacrificed and their left liver lobes were examined histopathologically. The liver and spleen index was figured out. The degrees of fibrosis were evaluated by HE and Masson straining. Serum trail levels of alanine aminotransferase（ALT），aspartate aminotransferase（AST），hyaluronic acid（HA），laminin（LN） and MMP-2 were detected. Expressions of NF-κB and MMP-2 in liver tissues were assessed by SP immunohistochemical staining. Results：The liver and spleen index and the serum trail levels of ALT，AST，HA，LN and MMP-2 were significantly lower in TFL high dose and low dose groups than in model group（P<0.01）. Degrees of hepatic fibrosis were less severe in TFL high dose and low dose groups than in model group（P<0.05）. Expression levels of NF-κB and MMP-2 were lower in TFL high dose and low dose groups than in model group（P<0.05）. Conclusions：TEL has obvious anti-hepatic fibrosis effect；the mechanism possibly correlates with the inhibition of NF-κB and MMP-2 expression.