Beneficial Effect of Rapamycin on Liver Fibrosis in a Mouse Model (C57bl/6 Mouse)

Transplant Proc. 2024 Apr;56(3):701-704. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2024.03.001. Epub 2024 Mar 27.

Abstract

Background: Liver fibrosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that progresses and has a high mortality rate. This study was performed to investigate the protective effect of rapamycin on experimentally induced chronic liver injury in mice models using both biochemical parameters of liver function enzymes.

Methods: Twenty-four mice were divided randomly into 4 equal groups: [1] the normal group, n = 6; [2] the liver fibrosis (LF) group, n = 6; [3] the LF with the treatment of rapamycin group, n = 6; [4] the LF with the treatment of silimaryn, n = 6.

Results: In the group receiving oral administration of rapamycin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, urea, and creatinine were found to significantly decrease compared to the liver fibrosis group. Rapamycin, in the orally administered group, demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in the expression of interleukin (IL) 10, IL-1B, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and tumor necrosis factor alpha compared to the liver fibrosis group.

Conclusions: In this study, we explored the potential therapeutic effects of rapamycin on liver fibrosis in an animal model.

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Animals
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis* / drug therapy
  • Liver Cirrhosis* / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Sirolimus* / pharmacology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Sirolimus
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Creatinine