Effects of hepatocyte growth factor on liver fibrosis in rats and its possible mechanism

Objective To investigate the effect of hepatocyte growth factor on expression of matrix metalloproteinase-13,tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 and transforming growth factor β-1 in experimental hepatic fibrosis in rats and its possible mechanism.?Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (Group A, 10 rats), HGF therapy group (Group B, 10 rats) and liver fibrosis model group (Group C, 10 rats). The liver fibrosis model was induced by administration CCl_4 intraperitoneally. Rats in Group B were administered by HGF. All rats were sacrificed after 8 weeks. Tissue specimens stained with HE and VG were subjected to histological analysis. Immunohistochemical assay was used to determine MMP-13,TIMP-1 and TGFβ-1 expression in liver tissue.?Results A single in vivo administration of HGF promoted recovery from fibrosis as assessed by improved fibrosis score (P0.05). Compared with Group C, serum HA and CⅣ level, expression of TIMP-1 and TGFβ-1 in liver tissue were significantly dropped in Group B(P0.05). A higher level MMP-13 expression was shown in Group B than in Group C(P0.05).?Conclusion HGF has therapeutic effects on liver fibrosis/cirrhosis, increasing the MMP-13 activity and or inhibiting TIMP-1 and TGFβ-1 activity.