AMP-activated protein kinase activator, HL156A reduces thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in mice and inhibits the activation of cultured hepatic stellate cells and macrophages

  • Authors:
    • Hye Shin Lee
    • Hyun-Sang Shin
    • Jinhyeok Choi
    • Sung-Jin Bae
    • Hee-Jun Wee
    • Taekwon Son
    • Ji Hae Seo
    • Ji-Hyeon Park
    • Sung-Wuk Kim
    • Kyu-Won Kim
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 21, 2016     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2016.3627
  • Pages: 1407-1414
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Cirrhosis, the end-stage of hepatic fibrosis, is not only life-threatening by itself, but also a causative factor of liver cancer. Despite efforts to develop treatment for liver fibrosis, there are no approved agents as anti-fibrotic drugs to date. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the anti-fibrotic effect of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, HL156A. A mouse model of thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis was used to examine the effect of HL156A in vivo. Mice received either TAA alone or a combination of TAA and HL156A intraperitoneally for a total duration of 6 weeks. Including HL156A during exposure to TAA significantly reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and production of the hepatic transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the activation of hepatic stellate cells and the capillarization of liver sinusoids were also diminished significantly by HL156A co-treatment. The anti-fibrotic effect of HL156A was further studied in vitro by using a rat hepatic stellate cell line, HSC-T6 cells. The induction of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) by TGF-β1 treatment was reversed by HL156A, which was likely via the activation of AMPK. Moreover, HL156A showed anti-inflammatory effects on macrophages. Treatment with HL156A diminished LPS-induced activation of both Raw264.7 macrophage cells and primary cultured mouse macrophages. Taken together, these results imply that the AMPK activator HL156A inhibits hepatic fibrosis via multiple mechanisms and could be a potentially effective agent for fibrosis treatment.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

October-2016
Volume 49 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Lee HS, Shin H, Choi J, Bae S, Wee H, Son T, Seo JH, Park J, Kim S, Kim K, Kim K, et al: AMP-activated protein kinase activator, HL156A reduces thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in mice and inhibits the activation of cultured hepatic stellate cells and macrophages. Int J Oncol 49: 1407-1414, 2016.
APA
Lee, H.S., Shin, H., Choi, J., Bae, S., Wee, H., Son, T. ... Kim, K. (2016). AMP-activated protein kinase activator, HL156A reduces thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in mice and inhibits the activation of cultured hepatic stellate cells and macrophages. International Journal of Oncology, 49, 1407-1414. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2016.3627
MLA
Lee, H. S., Shin, H., Choi, J., Bae, S., Wee, H., Son, T., Seo, J. H., Park, J., Kim, S., Kim, K."AMP-activated protein kinase activator, HL156A reduces thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in mice and inhibits the activation of cultured hepatic stellate cells and macrophages". International Journal of Oncology 49.4 (2016): 1407-1414.
Chicago
Lee, H. S., Shin, H., Choi, J., Bae, S., Wee, H., Son, T., Seo, J. H., Park, J., Kim, S., Kim, K."AMP-activated protein kinase activator, HL156A reduces thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in mice and inhibits the activation of cultured hepatic stellate cells and macrophages". International Journal of Oncology 49, no. 4 (2016): 1407-1414. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2016.3627