Expression of integrin in hepatic fibrosis and intervention of resveratrol

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the expression of integrin-β1 in different stages of hepatic fibrosis and intervention of resveratrol as well as the way by which integrin-β1 promoted hepatic fibrosis. Hepatic fibrosis models of male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were created and intragastric administration of resveratrol was given in low (40 mg/kg), middle (120 mg/kg) and high (200 mg/kg) dose groups. The expression of integrin-β1, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in different stages of hepatic fibrosis was detected by using RT-PCR. The expression of hexadecenoic acid (HA) and precollagen III (pc III) was assayed by radioimmunoassay. The expression of integrin-β1, TGF-β and TIMP-1 was determined in each group. Liver function and pathological sections of each group in different stages of hepatic fibrosis was tested to judge the therapeutic efficacy of resveratrol at different doses. The expression of integrin-β1 in normal control group was low and steady and was not increased with the development of hepatic fibrosis, but it was increased in other groups. The expression levels of integrin-β1 in the model control group (0.878 ± 0.03, P 0.05). The expression levels of integrin-β1 and TGF-β in middle dose group and high dose group were higher than other groups (P<0.01). The expression levels of integrin-β1 and TGF-β in model control group and low dose group were lower than the normal control group (P<0.01). The expression levels of TIMP-1 in the model control and low dose groups were higher than the other groups (P<0.01). The expression levels of TIMP-1 in the middle dose group and the high dose group were lower than the normal control group (P<0.01). The expression of integrin-β1 existed in all stages of hepatic fibrosis of SD rats, and it was increased with the development of hepatic fibrosis. The expression of TGF-β and TIMP-1 was consistent with that of integrin-β1 in different stages of hepatic fibrosis. Resveratrol could improve the degree of hepatic fibrosis of SD rats and decrease the expression of integrin-β1 markedly at a dose of 120 mg/kg.