Dynamics of Chronic Liver Injury in Experimental Models of Hepatotoxicity.
carbon tetrachloride
chronic liver failure
experimental models of hepatotoxicity
galactosoamine
stem cell therapy
Journal
Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)
ISSN: 2768-6698
Titre abrégé: Front Biosci (Landmark Ed)
Pays: Singapore
ID NLM: 101612996
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
09 05 2023
09 05 2023
Historique:
received:
01
02
2023
revised:
07
04
2023
accepted:
27
04
2023
medline:
2
6
2023
pubmed:
1
6
2023
entrez:
31
5
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
In humans, chronic liver disease (CLD) is a serious clinical condition with many life-threatening complications. Currently, there is no therapy to stop or slow down the progression of liver fibrosis. Experimental mouse models of CLD, induced by repeated intraperitoneal injections of carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) and D-galactosamine (D-GalN), can be used to evaluate therapies that cannot be performed in humans. A major drawback of these animal models is the different dynamics of liver fibrosis progression depending on the animal strain, administered hepatotoxin, its dose, duration of intoxication, and frequency of injections. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the dynamics of progression of pathological changes in the BALB/c mouse and Sprague Dawley rat models of CLD induced by CCl4 and D-GalN. We defined the onset and duration of these changes and suggested the optimal time for therapeutic intervention in the analyzed CLD models. CLD was induced by repeated intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 in mice (12.5 μL/100 g bw every 5 days) and rats (25-100 μL/100 g bw twice a week) and D-GalN in mice (75 mg/100 g bw twice a week) and rats (25 mg/100 g bw twice a week). Blood and liver samples were collected at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 of intoxication. Liver injury and its progression were assessed by using complete blood count and liver function blood tests as well as by analyzing histopathological changes, including fibrosis, proliferation activity, apoptosis, stellate cell activation, and gene expression. In mice and rats treated with CCl4, early fibrosis was observed in most pericentral areas from week 2 to 4 of intoxication. Established fibrosis developed in both rats and mice at week 6 of intoxication. Incomplete cirrhosis, defined as the presence of occasional cirrhotic nodules, was observed in rats at week 12 of intoxication. The dynamics of liver fibrosis in CCl4-treated animals were greater than in the D-GalN groups. In D-GalN-intoxicated rats and mice, the first signs of liver fibrosis were observed at weeks 4 and 10 of intoxication, respectively. The rats developed early fibrosis after 8 weeks of D-GalN intoxication. The progression of collagen deposition was accompanied by histological changes and alteration of certain genes and blood liver parameters. The dynamics of liver fibrosis in CCl4 treated rodents is greater than in the D-GalN treated ones. In the CCl4 models, two appropriate times for therapeutic intervention are indicated, which to varying degrees reflect the real clinical situation and may potentially differ in the obtained results: early intervention before week 4 of intoxication (early fibrosis) and late intervention after week 8 of intoxication (when signs of established fibrosis are present). Rodent models of D-GalN-induced fibrosis are not recommended due to the long incubation period and weak toxic effect.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
In humans, chronic liver disease (CLD) is a serious clinical condition with many life-threatening complications. Currently, there is no therapy to stop or slow down the progression of liver fibrosis. Experimental mouse models of CLD, induced by repeated intraperitoneal injections of carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) and D-galactosamine (D-GalN), can be used to evaluate therapies that cannot be performed in humans. A major drawback of these animal models is the different dynamics of liver fibrosis progression depending on the animal strain, administered hepatotoxin, its dose, duration of intoxication, and frequency of injections. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the dynamics of progression of pathological changes in the BALB/c mouse and Sprague Dawley rat models of CLD induced by CCl4 and D-GalN. We defined the onset and duration of these changes and suggested the optimal time for therapeutic intervention in the analyzed CLD models.
METHODS
CLD was induced by repeated intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 in mice (12.5 μL/100 g bw every 5 days) and rats (25-100 μL/100 g bw twice a week) and D-GalN in mice (75 mg/100 g bw twice a week) and rats (25 mg/100 g bw twice a week). Blood and liver samples were collected at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 of intoxication. Liver injury and its progression were assessed by using complete blood count and liver function blood tests as well as by analyzing histopathological changes, including fibrosis, proliferation activity, apoptosis, stellate cell activation, and gene expression.
RESULTS
In mice and rats treated with CCl4, early fibrosis was observed in most pericentral areas from week 2 to 4 of intoxication. Established fibrosis developed in both rats and mice at week 6 of intoxication. Incomplete cirrhosis, defined as the presence of occasional cirrhotic nodules, was observed in rats at week 12 of intoxication. The dynamics of liver fibrosis in CCl4-treated animals were greater than in the D-GalN groups. In D-GalN-intoxicated rats and mice, the first signs of liver fibrosis were observed at weeks 4 and 10 of intoxication, respectively. The rats developed early fibrosis after 8 weeks of D-GalN intoxication. The progression of collagen deposition was accompanied by histological changes and alteration of certain genes and blood liver parameters.
CONCLUSIONS
The dynamics of liver fibrosis in CCl4 treated rodents is greater than in the D-GalN treated ones. In the CCl4 models, two appropriate times for therapeutic intervention are indicated, which to varying degrees reflect the real clinical situation and may potentially differ in the obtained results: early intervention before week 4 of intoxication (early fibrosis) and late intervention after week 8 of intoxication (when signs of established fibrosis are present). Rodent models of D-GalN-induced fibrosis are not recommended due to the long incubation period and weak toxic effect.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37258482
pii: S2768-6701(23)00876-6
doi: 10.31083/j.fbl2805087
doi:
Substances chimiques
Carbon Tetrachloride
CL2T97X0V0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
87Informations de copyright
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors declare no conflict of interest.