Fenofibrate reverses liver fibrosis in cholestatic mice induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate

Pharmazie. 2021 Feb 25;76(2):103-108. doi: 10.1691/ph.2021.0988.

Abstract

Cholestatic liver fibrosis occurs in liver injuries accompanied by inflammation, which develops into cirrhosis if not effectively treated in early stage. The aim of the study is to explore the effect of fenofibrate on liver fibrosis in chronic cholestatic mice. In this study, wild-type (WT) and Pparα-null (KO) mice were dosed alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) diet to induce chronic cholestasis. Induced liver fibrosis was determined by pathological biomarkers. Then fenofibrate 25 mg/kg was orally administrated to mice twice/day for 14 days. Serum and liver samples were collected for analysis of biochemistry and fibrosis. In WT mice, cholestatic biomarkers were increased by 5-8-fold and the expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1), Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), Collagen protein I (Collagen I) was increased by more than 10-fold. Fenofibrate significantly downgraded the biochemical and fibrotic biomarkers. In Western blot analysis, levels of collagenI and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were strongly inhibited by fenofibrate. In KO mice, liver fibrosis was induced successfully, but no improvement after fenofibrate treatment was observed. These data showed low-dose fenofibrate reverses cholestatic liver fibrosis in WT mice but not in KO mice, suggesting the dependence of therapeutic action on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα). The study offers an additional therapeutic strategy for cholestatic liver fibrosis in practice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1-Naphthylisothiocyanate / adverse effects
  • 1-Naphthylisothiocyanate / pharmacology*
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / drug effects
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / drug therapy*
  • Chemokine CCL2 / metabolism
  • Cholestasis / chemically induced
  • Cholestasis / metabolism*
  • Cholestasis / pathology
  • Collagen Type I / metabolism
  • Fenofibrate / pharmacology*
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver Cirrhosis / drug therapy*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Models, Animal
  • PPAR alpha / deficiency
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Actins
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Ccl2 protein, mouse
  • Chemokine CCL2
  • Collagen Type I
  • PPAR alpha
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • alpha-smooth muscle actin, mouse
  • 1-Naphthylisothiocyanate
  • Col-1 peptide, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
  • Fenofibrate