Up-regulated expression of PTEN after splenetomy may prevent the progression of liver fibrosis in rats

Abstract

Background/purpose: To investigate the mechanisms of delaying progression of liver fibrosis by splenectomy.

Methods: Liver fibrosis was induced by common bile duct ligation. Rats were divided into 3 groups randomly: group A with common bile duct ligation and splenectomy (n = 45), group B with common bile duct ligation and spleen sham operation (n = 45), group C with sham common bile duct ligation and spleen sham operation (n = 45). Liver samples were collected at the 1st, 3rd and 5th week. H&E staining and Sirius staining were used to evaluate the degree of liver fibrosis, immunohistochemical staining was used to measure the expression of α-SMA and PTEN. PTEN mRNA and protein expression was measured by real-time PCR and Western-blot.

Results: Over time, liver fibrosis developed gradually in group A and B. The expression of PTEN mRNA and protein in group A was higher than that in group B (P < 0.05), while the expression of α-SMA was higher in group B (P < 0.05). The expression of PTEN was negatively correlated with α-SMA (r = -0.86, P < 0.05).

Conclusions: In this study, splenectomy can up-regulate the expression of PTEN and reduce the secretion of α-SMA, thereby deterring the progression of liver fibrosis.

Keywords: Liver fibrosis; PTEN; Splenectomy; α-SMA.