Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of peptide YY against hepatic fibrosis in rats and explore the possible mechanism.
Method: Rat models of hepatic fibrosis were established with a subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride and randomized into normal control group, model group, peptide YY (PYY)-treated group, octreotide-treated group, and interferon gamma-treated group. Serum levels of the hepatic function indices and hepatic fibrotic index were detected, and the hepatic fibrosis grade was assessed using HE staining. The expression of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) were determined with immunohistochemical staining method.
Results: The rats in PYY-treated group showed significantly different serum levels of TBIL, HA and LN from the rats in the model group (P<0.05). PYY significantly reduced hepatic fibrosis scores and lowered TGFbeta1 expression as compared with the model group.
Conclusions: PYY can down-regulate TGFbeta1 expression to inhibit the development of hepatic fibrosis with comparable efficacy with interferon gamma and octreotide.