Protective effect of Thymic Humoral Factor on porcine serum-induced hepatic fibrosis and liver damage in Wistar rats

Abstract

Introduction. Immunomodulatory drugs have been reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties. Thymic Humoral Factor (THF), a peptide produced in the thymus, causes a potent immunomodulatory effect on different components of the immune system. Objective. To evaluate the effect of THF on different stages of liver damage and fibrosis induced in rats through the administration of porcine serum (PS).Material and methods. PS-induced liver fibrosis models serve as a primarily immunological mechanism in the development of liver damage and fibrosis.Results. The intraperitoneal administration of THF in rats with PS-induced liver damage produced a reduction of ALT and AST after 60 days. Histopathological changes in liver sections showed an improved histological appearance and lower % of fibrosis after 60 days in liver damaged rats that received THF treatment. Serum IL-6 levels were visibly reduced by THF administration after 60 days and in comparison with rats that did not receive the treatment. This was due to an increment in serum IL-10 levels caused by the administration of THF, which appears to reduce the inflammatory process by decreasing immune response.Conclusion. THF had beneficial effects in combating liver damage and fibrosis processes in an autoimmune model of PS-induced liver fibrosis in rats.