Anti-fibrotic effects of specific-siRNA targeting of the receptor for advanced glycation end products in a rat model of experimental hepatic fibrosis

  • Authors:
    • Xiao-Gang Cai
    • Jin-Rong Xia
    • Wei-Dong Li
    • Feng-Lin Lu
    • Juan Liu
    • Qin Lu
    • Hong Zhi
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 2, 2014     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2014.2207
  • Pages: 306-314
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Abstract

Since the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)-ligand axis has been demonstrated to be important in fibrogenesis, rat models may be used to assess whether specific small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that target RAGE are able to reduce the progression of hepatic fibrosis. However, the effect of RAGE-targeted siRNA on established hepatic fibrosis remains to be elucidated. In the present study, RAGE-specific siRNA expression vectors were constructed prior to the animal experiment. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated initially with olive oil (2 ml/kg) or 50% CCl4 (2 ml/kg; CCl4/olive oil=1:1) twice per week for six weeks to generate the fibrosis model. The rats were then treated with phosphate‑buffered saline, a RAGE-specific siRNA expression vector, at different doses or a non-specific siRNA expression vector twice weekly via tail vein injection for up to six weeks, and were sacrificed at week two, four or six. Compared with the control groups, RAGE‑specific siRNA therapy significantly decreased RAGE mRNA and protein expression in rat livers (P<0.01). Following six weeks of RAGE gene-silencing treatment, the liver function, which was assessed by analyzing serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin (TBIL), improved to varying degrees (P<0.01). The expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) significantly decreased following RAGE gene‑silencing therapy (P<0.01). In addition, the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and extracellular matrix (ECM) components, including hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN) and procollagen type III (PCIII) also decreased (P<0.01). Furthermore, the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I, which indicate the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), were downregulated following RAGE gene-silencing therapy (P<0.01). Furthermore, the inflammatory activity grade and fibrosis stage of rat livers also significantly improved compared with the control groups following RAGE gene-silencing therapy. Specific targeting of RAGE using siRNA may inhibit RAGE gene expression effectively in the rat hepatic fibrosis model and attenuate the progression of established hepatic fibrosis. This therapeutic effect may be mediated via inhibition of the expression of NF-κB. These findings suggest that RAGE may be a new target to prevent hepatic fibrosis.
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July-2014
Volume 10 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Cai X, Xia J, Li W, Lu F, Liu J, Lu Q and Zhi H: Anti-fibrotic effects of specific-siRNA targeting of the receptor for advanced glycation end products in a rat model of experimental hepatic fibrosis. Mol Med Rep 10: 306-314, 2014.
APA
Cai, X., Xia, J., Li, W., Lu, F., Liu, J., Lu, Q., & Zhi, H. (2014). Anti-fibrotic effects of specific-siRNA targeting of the receptor for advanced glycation end products in a rat model of experimental hepatic fibrosis. Molecular Medicine Reports, 10, 306-314. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2014.2207
MLA
Cai, X., Xia, J., Li, W., Lu, F., Liu, J., Lu, Q., Zhi, H."Anti-fibrotic effects of specific-siRNA targeting of the receptor for advanced glycation end products in a rat model of experimental hepatic fibrosis". Molecular Medicine Reports 10.1 (2014): 306-314.
Chicago
Cai, X., Xia, J., Li, W., Lu, F., Liu, J., Lu, Q., Zhi, H."Anti-fibrotic effects of specific-siRNA targeting of the receptor for advanced glycation end products in a rat model of experimental hepatic fibrosis". Molecular Medicine Reports 10, no. 1 (2014): 306-314. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2014.2207