Therapeutic effect of chitosan on CCl4‑induced hepatic fibrosis in rats

Wang,Zhong‑Feng; Wang,Mao‑Yu; Yu,De‑Hai; Zhao,Yan; Xu,Hong‑Mei; Zhong,Sheng; Sun,Wen‑Yi; He,Yu‑Fang; Niu,Jun‑Qi; Gao,Pu‑Jun; Li,Hai‑Jun

doi:10.3892/mmr.2018.9343

Therapeutic effect of chitosan on CCl4‑induced hepatic fibrosis in rats

Authors:
- Zhong‑Feng Wang
- Mao‑Yu Wang
- De‑Hai Yu
- Yan Zhao
- Hong‑Mei Xu
- Sheng Zhong
- Wen‑Yi Sun
- Yu‑Fang He
- Jun‑Qi Niu
- Pu‑Jun Gao
- Hai‑Jun Li
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Affiliations: Department of Geriatrics, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China, Department of CCU, The First People's Hospital of Aksu Prefecture in Xinjiang, Aksu, Xinjiang 843000, P.R. China, Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130061, P.R. China, College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agriculture University, Changchun, Jilin 130061, P.R. China, Department of Obstetrics, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130061, P.R. China, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Management, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China, Institute of Phytochemistry, Jilin Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130012, P.R. China, Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
Published online on: August 1, 2018 https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.9343
Pages: 3211-3218
Copyright: © Wang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide that is made by treating the chitin shells of shrimp and crustaceans with an alkaline substance, for example sodium hydroxide. Due to its unique physical and chemical properties, chitosan has a wide range of applications in the medical field. Currently, there are no effective treatments for liver fibrosis; therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of chitosan in a CCl4‑induced hepatic fibrosis (HF) rat model. The serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured by ELISA. Collagen (COL) 3 and α‑smooth muscle actin (SMA) expression levels in the rat liver were detected by reverse transcription‑semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. The results demonstrated that treatment with chitosan significantly improved HF, by decreasing the serum levels of AST, ALT, and ALP; improving liver histology; and decreasing the expression levels of COL3 and α‑SMA. Chitosan may offer an alternative approach for the clinical treatment of HF.

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