365 ROLE OF BACTERIAL TRANSLOCATION IN LIVER FIBROSIS AND HCC DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Results: mRNA for Collagen and aSMA were increased in HFD-BDL-mice versus CTRL-BDL-mice. Similarly, colllagen depostion, aSMA immunohistochemistry and hydroxyproline content were higher in the HFD-BDL-mice, while no differences were observed between CTRL-CCl4-mice and HFDCCl4-mice. Culture-positivity of mesenteric lymphnodes showed higher density of infection in HFD-BDL-mice respect to CTRL-BDL-mice, suggesting higher bacterial translocation rate in the first group. Due to the peritoneum toxic effect of CCl4, no evidence of bacterial translocation was observed in the group CCl4-treated-mice. Moreover, HFD-DEN-mice showed an increase in number and size of tumors in comparison to CTRL-DEN-mice. Conclusions: HFD enhances liver fibrosis in BDL-mice but not in CCl4-mice, and this is associated to potential effect of bacterial translocation. Moreover, HFD is also able to enhance the process of cancerogenesis: HFD-mice develop more liver cancer then CTRL-mice. Thus, the different habit in dietary feeding, through the mechanisms of bacterial translocation, may enhance, in the course of chronic hepatic liver damage, the development of fibrosis and cancer in the liver.