Investigation of molecular and cellular mechanisms of liver fibrosis in rats with post-toxic hepatosis of various etiologies and with the use of oxidized dextran
Authors:   Research Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Federal Research Center for Fundamental  and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia, Karpov M.A. ,   Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russia, Nadeev A.P. ,   Research Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Federal Research Center for Fundamental  and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia; Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russia, Klochin V.D. ,   Research Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Federal Research Center for Fundamental  and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia, Shkurupiy V.A. ,   Research Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Federal Research Center for Fundamental  and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia, Pozdnyakova S.V. ,   Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russia
Published: July 2023

Introduction. The development of liver cirrhosis, regardless of etiology, is based on the process of fibrosis and structural alteration of the organ. Regulation of this process is associated with a high level of TGF-β expression and suppression of apoptosis in hepatocytes. Oxidized dextran (OD) has a high antifibrotic activity and is able to change the functional state of the phagocytic cell, thus preventing the development of fibrosis and stimulating reparative processes in organs with post-toxic hepatosis and liver cirrhosis. Aim. To study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the effect of OD on the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated proteins during fibrosis and the development of liver cirrhosis in rats with post-toxic hepatosis. Materials and methods. In the experiment, 30 male Wistar rats weighing 280–320 g were used. The animals were divided into 2 groups. In group 1 rats (hepatosis), the post-toxic hepatosis was modeled by administration of a solution of CCl4 and ethyl alcohol. In rats from group 2, the post-toxic hepatosis was modeled in the same way, and OD was administered. The numerical density (Nai) of liver nonparenchymal cells expressing TGF-β (Kupffer cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts) was calculated. The expression of E-cadherin, vimentin, SNAIL + SLUG by fibroblasts and hepatocytes was evaluated. Results. The numerical density (Nai) of hepatocytes expressing vimentin prevailed in the liver of group 1 rats (hepatosis), compared with that of group 2 animals (hepatosis + OD) on the 30th and 60th days. In animals of the 1st (hepatosis) group on the 60th day, a 3-fold lower numerical density of hepatocytes expressing E-cadherin was noted in comparison with that in rats treated with OD (group 2). In animals of the 1st (hepatosis) group on the 30th and 60th days, a 2-fold and 5-fold higher numerical density of hepatocytes expressing SNAIL + SLUG was noted in comparison with that in rats of the 2nd group. The numerical density of fibroblasts expressing vimentin prevailed in the liver of group 2 rats (hepatosis + OD), compared with that of group 1 animals (hepatosis) on day 30. In animals of the 1st (hepatosis) group on the 60th day, a 6-fold higher numerical density of fibroblasts expressing E-cadherin was noted in comparison with that in rats treated with OD (group 2). In animals of the 1st (hepatosis) group on the 30th and 60th days, the numerical density of fibroblasts expressing SNAIL + SLUG was 6 and 7 times higher than in rats treated with OD (group 2). In the liver of animals of the 2nd group (hepatosis + OD), the numerical density of cells expressing TGF-β was lower in comparison with that of animals of the 1st group (hepatosis) by 2.5 times on the 30th day and 3.6 times on the 60th day of the experiment. Conclusion. In post-toxic hepatosis, the expression of TGF-β, SNAIL + SLUG and vimentin proteins increases in liver parenchymal and nonparenchymal cells, contributing to the acquisition of a mesenchymal immunophenotype by cells, which leads to increased profibrotic activity and the development of liver cirrhosis. The use of OD in post-toxic hepatosis reduces the expression of vimentin, TGF-β and EMT-associated proteins in liver parenchymal and nonparenchymal cells, which decreases the severity of fibroplastic processes and prevents the development of liver cirrhosis.