Investigating the Potential of Curcumin in Reducing Liver Fibrosis via Inhibition of TGF-β1 Gene Expression

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
R. Ebrahimi
A. Sahebghadam Lotfi
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Abstract: Introduction: Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is crucial in developing liver fibrosis. Curcumin has been shown to effectively halt the advancement of liver fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway. Nevertheless, curcumin's impact on liver fibrosis regression remains unclear. This study explored the involvement of curcumin and TGF-β1 in the regression of liver fibrosis.

Methods: An experimental male C57BL/6 mice model included 6 treatment groups. The treatment groups were injected with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for 4 and 6 weeks to induce liver fibrosis, negative controls were injected with olive oil. After cessation of injection, 2 of the treatment groups were given curcumin for 2 weeks. TGF-β1 expression in liver cells was analyzed by real-time PCR assay. ELISA analyzed hydroxyproline liver tissue levels. Values of p<0.05 were regarded as statistically significant.

Results: CCl4 injection induced liver fibrosis and significantly increased TGF-β1 expression and hydroxyproline levels in tissues. Curcumin administration decreased the expression of TGF-β1 and hydroxyproline levels in the liver and accelerated the regression of liver fibrosis.

Conclusion: Curcumin accelerates regression of liver fibrosis, likely through decreasing TGF-β1 expression in the liver.

Keywords: Liver fibrosis, Carbon tetrachloride, Curcumin, TGF-β1, Hydroxyproline.

Keywords

Subjects

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Pathobiology Reserach
Volume 27, Issue 2
November 2024
Pages 7-12