The involvement of TGF-β1 /FAK/α-SMA pathway in the antifibrotic impact of rice bran oil on thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in rats

PLoS One. 2021 Dec 29;16(12):e0260130. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260130. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

The objective of the current study is to investigate the effect of rice bran oil (RBO) on hepatic fibrosis as a characteristic response to persistent liver injuries. Rats were randomly allocated into five groups: the negative control group, thioacetamide (TAA) group (thioacetamide 100 mg/kg thrice weekly for two successive weeks, ip), RBO 0.2 and 0.4 groups (RBO 0.2mL and 0.4 mL/rat/day, po) and standard group (silymarin 100 mg/kg/day, po) for two weeks after TAA injection. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected for biochemical, molecular, and histological analyses. Liver functions, oxidative stress, inflammation, liver fibrosis markers were assessed. The obtained results showed that RBO reduced TAA-induced liver fibrosis and suppressed the extracellular matrix formation. Compared to the positive control group, RBO dramatically reduced total bilirubin, AST, and ALT blood levels. Furthermore, RBO reduced MDA and increased GSH contents in the liver. Simultaneously RBO downregulated the NF-κβ signaling pathway, which in turn inhibited the expression of some inflammatory mediators, including Cox-2, IL-1β, and TNF-α. RBO attenuated liver fibrosis by suppressing the biological effects of TGF-β1, α-SMA, collagen I, hydroxyproline, CTGF, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). RBO reduced liver fibrosis by inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation and modulating the interplay among the TGF-β1 and FAK signal transduction. The greater dosage of 0.4 mL/kg has a more substantial impact. Hence, this investigation presents RBO as a promising antifibrotic agent in the TAA model through inhibition of TGF-β1 /FAK/α-SMA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Albumins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Becaplermin / metabolism
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Collagen Type I / metabolism
  • Connective Tissue Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Globulins / metabolism
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Hydroxyproline / metabolism
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / blood
  • Liver Cirrhosis / chemically induced
  • Liver Cirrhosis / drug therapy*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Malondialdehyde / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Rice Bran Oil / pharmacology
  • Rice Bran Oil / therapeutic use*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Thioacetamide
  • Transaminases / blood
  • Transaminases / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Acta2 protein, rat
  • Actins
  • Albumins
  • Biomarkers
  • CCN2 protein, rat
  • Collagen Type I
  • Cytokines
  • Globulins
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • NF-kappa B
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Thioacetamide
  • Connective Tissue Growth Factor
  • Becaplermin
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Transaminases
  • Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Glutathione
  • Rice Bran Oil
  • Hydroxyproline

Grants and funding

The authors are thankful to the National Research Centre-Egypt (NRC) for funding the research project no. 12060127.