The effects of the selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist eplerenone on hepatic fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation in rat

Int J Mol Med. 2010 Jun;25(6):875-82. doi: 10.3892/ijmm_00000417.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of eplerenone on hepatic fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in rat. Low- (1.0 mg/kg body weight, BW) and high- (4.0 mg/kg BW) dose eplerenone was administered orally for 21 days immediately following BDL. Fibrosis was assessed by measuring the fibrotic area after Sirius red staining. Immunostaining for alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was also carried out. Gene expression levels of procollagen-I, transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) in the liver were examined by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Plasma angiotensin II (ATII) concentration was measured via radioimmunoassay. The area of hepatic fibrosis and alpha-SMA positivity in the high-dose group was significantly decreased compared with that in the BDL group, but not in the low-dose group. 8-OHdG-positive cells in the low- and high-dose groups were significantly decreased compared with those in the BDL group. Immunostaining of 4-HNE in the high-dose group was significantly lower compared with that in the BDL group. Furthermore, TIMP-1 mRNA levels in the low- and high-dose groups were lower than that in the BDL group. The expression of TGF-beta1, CTGF, procollagen-1 and MMP-13 showed no differences. Plasma ATII concentration in the high-dose group was significantly decreased. Eplerenone attenuated the development of BDL-induced hepatic fibrosis by reducing oxidative stress, suppressing activated hepatic stellate cells and decreasing plasma ATII levels. Eplerenone may prove useful as an alternative treatment for antifibrosis therapy.

MeSH terms

  • 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine
  • Aldehydes / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Bile Ducts / drug effects
  • Bile Ducts / surgery*
  • Deoxyguanosine / analogs & derivatives
  • Deoxyguanosine / metabolism
  • Eplerenone
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Hydroxyproline / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Ligation
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Liver Cirrhosis / drug therapy*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • Male
  • Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Spironolactone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Spironolactone / pharmacology
  • Spironolactone / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Aldehydes
  • Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Spironolactone
  • Eplerenone
  • 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine
  • Deoxyguanosine
  • 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal
  • Hydroxyproline