Background: Drug-induced hepatotoxicity is an extremely widespread condition and is responsible for a variety of pathological effects on the liver. It was reported that hepatotoxicity induced by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) is cholestasis mediated hepatitis. Bradykinin-potentiating factor (BPF) is one of the natural ACEIs. Although prolonged treatment with ACEIs provides protection against liver injury, the effect of short-term treatment with ACEIs has not been fully elucidated before. Thereby, the present study sought to determine if transient ACE inhibition may exacerbate the hepatotoxicity caused by bile duct ligation (BDL) in rats.
Methods: Twenty one Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: Sham-operated group, bile duct ligated (BDL) rats, and BDL rats treated for short-term with BPF (1 μg/kg body weight) day after day for one week and biochemical parameters were measured. Also, we assessed expression level of ACE1 and detection of hepatotoxicity in the liver tissues of different groups.
Results: There was a significant increase in liver enzymes, bilirubin levels, and oxidative stress in the BDL group after treatment with BPF as compared to BDL group. We found overexpression of ACE1 gene in BDL group compared to BPF and Sham-operated control group. Histopathological examination of liver treated with BPF showed severe degeneration hepatic architecture and hepatocytes as compared to BDL group. Collagen deposition increased after BPF treatment as compared to BDL groups.
Conclusion: The present investigation suggests and recommends that short- term ACE inhibition pathway potentiates liver fibrosis during cholestasis disease.
Keywords: Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs); Bile duct ligation; Bradykinin potentiating factor; Cholestasis; Hepatotoxicity; Oxidative stress.
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