Interleukin-10 gene therapy reverses thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in mice

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Oct 14;336(1):324-31. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.08.085.

Abstract

Hepatic fibrosis represents a process of healing and scarring in response to chronic liver injury. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a cytokine that downregulates the proinflammatory response and has a modulatory effect on hepatic fibrogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether IL-10 gene therapy possesses anti-hepatic fibrogenesis in mice. Liver fibrosis was induced by long-term thioacetamide administration in mice. Human IL-10 expression plasmid was delivered via electroporation after liver fibrosis established. IL-10 gene therapy reversed hepatic fibrosis and prevented cell apoptosis in a thioacetamide-treated liver. RT-PCR revealed IL-10 gene therapy to reduce liver transforming growth factor-beta1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, collagen alpha1, cell adhesion molecule, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase mRNA upregulation. Following gene transfer, the activation of alpha-smooth muscle actin and cyclooxygenase-2 was significantly attenuated. In brief, IL-10 gene therapy might be an effective therapeutic reagent for liver fibrosis with potential future clinical applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • DNA Primers
  • Genetic Therapy*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Nick-End Labeling
  • Interleukin-10 / genetics*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / chemically induced
  • Liver Cirrhosis / therapy*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Thioacetamide / toxicity*

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Thioacetamide
  • Interleukin-10
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases