Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide that is made by treating the chitin shells of shrimp and crustaceans with an alkaline substance, for example sodium hydroxide. Due to its unique physical and chemical properties, chitosan has a wide range of applications in the medical field. Currently, there are no effective treatments for liver fibrosis; therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of chitosan in a CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis (HF) rat model. The serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured by ELISA. Collagen (COL) 3 and alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA) expression levels in the rat liver were detected by reverse transcription-semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. The results demonstrated that treatment with chitosan significantly improved HF, by decreasing the serum levels of AST, ALT, and ALP; improving liver histology; and decreasing the expression levels of COL3 and alpha-SMA. Chitosan may offer an alternative approach for the clinical treatment of HF.
[1]Jilin Univ, Hosp 1, Dept Geriatr, 71 Xinmin St, Changchun 130021, Jilin, Peoples R China.
[2]First Peoples Hosp Aksu Prefecture Xinjiang, Dept CCU, Aksu 843000, Xinjiang, Peoples R China.
[3]Jilin Univ, Hosp 1, Canc Ctr, Changchun 130061, Jilin, Peoples R China.
[4]Jilin Agr Univ, Coll Chinese Med Mat, Changchun 130061, Jilin, Peoples R China.
[5]Jilin Univ, Hosp 1, Dept Obstet, Changchun 130061, Jilin, Peoples R China.
[6]Jilin Univ, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Clin Pharm & Pharmaceut Management, Changchun 130021, Jilin, Peoples R China.
[7]Jilin Acad Chinese Med Sci, Inst Phytochem, Changchun 130012, Jilin, Peoples R China.
[8]Jilin Univ, Hosp 1, Inst Translat Med, 71 Xinmin St, Changchun 130021, Jilin, Peoples R China.
(8.0+极速模式)