Efficacy of Activated Vitamin D_3 Combined with Interferon-α in the Treatment of CCL_4-induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Mice

Objective To investigate the curative effect of activated vitamin D3 combined with IFN-α on CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in BALB/c mouse model. Methods The experimental mice received 100 μL of 10% CCl4 intraperitoneally to induce a model of hepatic fibrosis,and the normal control group were administrated with same volume of 0.9% saline(n = 6). The experimental mice then were randomly divided into four treatment groups and treated for six weeks:saline therapy group(0.9% saline,100 μL/mouse,n = 6),IFN-α therapy group(IFN-α 800 U/mouse,n =6),1,25-(OH)2D3 therapy group(50 μg/kg,by gavaged,n = 6)and combined treatment therapy group(combined treatment,n=6). Hepatic injury and hepatic pathology were examined by HE staining and Masson staining. Interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-10(IL-10),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)and Smad3 were determined by real-time PCR and ELISA. Results Inflammatory cell infiltration and periportal collagen deposition were significantly reduced in all the therapeutic group expect saline therapy group assessed by HE and Masson staining. The IFN-α therapy group,1,25-(OH)2D3 therapy group and combined treatment therapy group displayed significant decrease in Col1α1,IL-6,TNF-α,TGF-β and Smad3 expression and increase in IL-10 expression in liver tissue(P 0.05). Conclusion The effect of 1,25-(OH)2D3combined with IFN-α therapy is similar to separated treatment.