[Chinese herbal medicine Xiayuxue Decoction inhibits liver angiogenesis in rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of Xiayuxue Decoction, a compound traditional Chinese medicine, on liver angiogenesis in rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver fibrosis.

METHODS

Liver cirrhosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 50% CCl(4)-olive oil solution at the dose of 1 mL/kg body weight, twice per week for 9 consecutive weeks. After 3- and 6-week injection, 6 rats in the normal group and 6 rats in the model group were randomly sacrificed for dynamic observation. The survival rats of model group were randomly divided into model group (n=15) and Xiayuxue Decoction group (n=11). Six normal rats were used as a normal control. Xiayuxue Decoction was administered orally starting from the 7th week for 3 weeks. At the end of the ninth week, animals were sacrificed and liver tissues were harvested to measure histological changes, activities of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 and protein expressions of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31), von Willebrand factor (vWF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2), complement decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the liver tissues.

RESULTS

Compared with the normal group, liver injury, fatty degeneration and collagen deposition were evidently observed in the model group and protein expressions of CD31, vWF, VEGF, VEGFR2, DAF and α-SMA were gradually increased. In addition, the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in liver tissues were enhanced in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with 9-week model group, liver injury, fatty degeneration and collagen deposition were markedly inhibited by Xiayuxue Decoction; protein expressions of CD31, vWF, VEGF, VEGFR2,α-SMA and DAF and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the liver tissues were decreased in the Xiayuxue Decoction group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

The angiogenesis is evident and aggravating gradually during the progression of liver cirrhosis induced by CCl(4). Xiayuxue Decoction inhibits the angiogenesis by decreasing the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9, inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells, and damaging the new vessel integrality.