Search JIM Advanced Search

Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine ›› 2009, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (7): 642-650.doi: 10.3736/jcim20090708

• Original Experimental Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Qinggan Huoxue Recipe and its separated recipes on urokinase-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 fibrinolytic system in rats with alcoholic liver fibrosis

 Jun-ming Chen, Lei Wang, Tao Liu, Lian-jun Xing, Pei-yong Zheng, Guang Ji   

  1. Institute of Digestive Diseases and Department of Gastroenterology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
  • Received:2009-04-13 Accepted:2009-05-26 Online:2009-07-20 Published:2009-07-15
  • Contact: Guang Ji E-mail:jiliver@vip.sina.com

Objective

To study the action mechanisms of Qinggan Huoxue Recipe (QGHXR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and its separated recipes by observing their effects on expressions of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in rats with alcoholic liver fibrosis (ALF).
Methods

A total of 150 SD rats were divided into three groups: blank group, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) group and ALF-inducing group. Rats in the ALF-inducing group were administered with a mixture diet (56% alcohol 10 mL/kg, corn oil 2 mL/kg, pyrazole 25 mg/kg) once daily and intraperitoneally injected with 0.3 mL/kg 25% solution of CCl4 in olive oil twice weekly. The CCl4 group was intraperitoneally injected with equal volume of CCl4 and olive oil as the ALF-inducing group and ingested normal saline (12 mL/kg per day). The blank group was intraperitoneally injected with and ingested saline in equal volumes of the above. At the end of the eighth week, the survived rats in the ALF-inducing group were divided into four subgroups: untreated group, QGHXR group, Qinggan Recipe (QGR) group and Huoxue Recipe (HXR) group. The three treated groups were given corresponding drugs respectively (4.75, 1.5, 3.25 g/kg). The blank group, CCl4 group and untreated group were given normal saline in equal volume (5 mL/kg per day). All rats were anaesthetized and killed at the end of the twelfth week. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the serum were analyzed. Pathological changes in liver tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson staining. The expressions of uPA and PAI-1 were evaluated with Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Results

There existed obvious liver fibrosis in liver tissues in the untreated group as compared with the blank group (P<0.01), and the activities of ALT and AST and the expressions of uPA and PAI-1 also increased in the untreated group. QGHXR and its separated recipes could improve the degree of liver fibrosis (P<0.01). QGHXR and its separated recipes could degrade the activity of ALT as compared with the untreated group; QGHXR and its separated recipes advanced the expression of uPA, and decreased the expression of PAI-1 significantly as compared with the untreated group. The effect of QGHXR was the best among the three recipes.
Conclusion

QGHXR and its separated recipes may improve ALF in rats by decreasing the expression of PAI-1 and advance the expression of uPA. The effect of QGHXR is the best among them.

Key words: Liver cirrhosis, Alcoholic, Qinggan Huoxue Recipe, Separated recipes, Urinary plasminogen activator, Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, Rats

Table 1

Primer subsequences of PAI-1, uPA and GAPDH"

Target gene Primer subsequence Size of product (bp)
PAI-1 Forward: 5'-GTGGTTCGGCACAATCCAACAGAG-3' 441
Reverse: 5'-GCAATGGAGGACGATACAAGAGGT-3'
uPA Forward: 5'-AAGGTCTGGGATACTAGAGCC-3' 144
Reverse: 5'-CAGGATATCCTCAGTCTCCACC-3'
GAPDH Forward: 5'-GGTCGGAGTCAACGGATTTG-3' 320
Reverse: 5'-ATGAGCCCCCAGCCTTCTCCA-3'

Table 2

Effects of QGHXR and its separated recipes on activities of ALT and AST in rats with ALF ($\bar{x}$±s, U/L)"

Group n ALT AST
Blank 10 33.90±9.81 119.57±28.63
CCl4 10 27.58±3.03 116.90±20.47
Untreated 12 138.34±43.35** 257.41±162.31**
QGR 12 41.95±26.78△△ 102.74±23.55
HXR 12 46.63±21.00△△ 111.50±21.26
QGHXR 12 37.57±27.85△△ 83.72±33.81△△

Figure 1

Pathological changes of liver tissues in different groups observed by HE staining (Light microscopy, ×400) A: Blank group; B: CCl4 group; C: Untreated group; D: QGR group; E: HXR group; F: QGHXR group."

Figure 2

Liver fibrosis in different groups observed by Masson staining (Light microscopy, ×200) A: Blank group; B: CCl4 group; C: Untreated group; D: QGR group; E: HXR group; F: QGHXR group."

Table 3

Effects of QGHXR and its separated recipes on degree of liver fibrosis of rats with ALF"

Group n Number of rats with different
degrees of liver fibrosis
+ ++ +++
Blank 10 10 0 0 0
CCl4 10 7 3 0 0
Untreated 12 0 3 5 4
QGR 12 0 8 3 1
HXR 12 0 7 3 2
QGHXR 12 1 8 2 1

Figure 3

Effects of QGHXR and its separated recipes on protein expressions of uPA and PAI-1 in liver tissues of rats with ALF A: Blank group; B: CCl4 group; C: Untreated group; D: QGR group; E: HXR group; F: QGHXR group."

Table 4

Effects of QGHXR and its separated recipes on expressions of uPA and PAI-1 proteins in liver tissues of rats with ALF ($\bar{x}$±s)"

Group n uPA PAI-1
Blank 10 0.15±0.01 0.30±0.05
CCl4 10 0.17±0.01 0.36±0.08
Untreated 12 0.31±0.16** 1.36±0.15**
QGR 12 0.98±0.09△▲▲ 0.76±0.12△▲
HXR 12 0.75±0.06△▲▲ 0.87±0.18△▲▲
QGHXR 12 1.98±0.24△△ 0.41±0.06△△

Figure 4

Effects of QGHXR and its separated recipes on expressions of uPA and PAI-1 proteins in liver tissues of rats with ALF (Immumofluorescence method,×400) a: The green fluorescence denotes uPA protein positive expression; b: The red fluorescence denotes PAI-1 protein positive expression; c: The yellow fluorescence denotes uPA and PAI-1 protein positive expression."

Figure 5

Effects of QGHXR and its separated recipes on the expressions of uPA, PAI-1 mRNAs in the liver of rats with ALF *P<0.05, **P<0.01, vs blank group; △P<0.05, △△P<0.01, vs untreated group; ▲P<0.05, ▲▲P<0.01, vs QGHXR group. Data were represented as $\bar{x}$±s. The numbers of the rats were 10 in blank and CCl4 groups and 12 in the other groups."

[1] Ji G, Wang YQ, Cao CL, Jiang LF, Zhang W, Xing LJ, Wang Y . Clinical study on treatment of alcoholic liver disease by Qinggan Huoxue Recipe[J]. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi, 2004,24(1):13-16
季光, 王育群, 曹承楼, 姜鲁峰, 张玮, 邢练军, 王奕 . 清肝活血方治疗酒精性肝病的临床研究[J]. 中国中西医结合杂志, 2004,24(1):13-16
[2] Ji G, Cao CL, Zhang GY, Zhang W, Xing LJ, Wang Y, Wang YN, Wang YQ . The effect of Qinggan Huoxue Decoction on the expression of the liver collagen type Ⅰ of Wistar rats with alcoholic liver disease[J]. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xiao Hua Za Zhi, 2002,10(1):24-26
季光, 曹承楼, 张广业, 张玮, 邢练军, 王奕, 王雨秾, 王育群 . 清肝活血方对酒精性肝病大鼠肝组织I型胶原表达的影响[J]. 中国中西医结合消化杂志, 2002,10(1):24-26
[3] Chen Q. Technology of research on pharmacology of traditional Chinese medicine[M]. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 1994: 33
陈奇 . 中药药理研究方法学[M]. 北京: 人民卫生出版社, 1994: 33
[4] Wang L, Ji G, Zheng PY, Long AH . Establishment of a rat model of alcoholic liver fibrosis induced by complex factors[J]. J Chin Integr Med, 2006,4(3):281-284
王磊, 季光, 郑培永, 龙爱华 . 大鼠酒精性肝纤维化复合模型的建立[J]. 中西医结合学报, 2006,4(3):281-284
[5] Wang TL . Standard grading, staging and categorizing for pathological diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease[J]. Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi, 2001,9(5):312-313
王泰龄 . 酒精性肝病的病理诊断标准分级、分期及分类[J]. 中华肝脏病杂志, 2001,9(5):312-313
[6] Ji G, Cao CL, Zhang W, Xing LJ, Wang Y, Wang YQ . Effect of Qinggan Huoxue Decoction on gene expression of key enzyme about alcohol metabolism of Wistar rat with alcoholic liver disease[J]. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Gan Bing Za Zhi, 2002,12(4):215-217
季光, 曹承楼, 张玮, 邢练军, 王奕, 王育群 . 清肝活血方对酒精性肝病大鼠ADH及CYPⅡE1的影响[J]. 中西医结合肝病杂志, 2002,12(4):215-217
[7] Tsukamoto H, French SW, Benson N, Delgado G, Rao GA, Larkin EC, Largman C . Severe and progressive steatosis and focal necrosis in rat liver induced by continuous intragastric infusion of ethanol and low fat diet[J]. Hepatology, 1985,5(2):224-232
doi: 10.1002/(ISSN)1527-3350
[8] Han YP, Yan C, Zhou L, Qin L, Tsukamoto H . A matrix metalloproteinase-9 activation cascade by hepatic stellate cells in trans-differentiation in the three-dimensional extracellular matrix[J]. J Biol Chem, 2007,282(17):12928-12939
doi: 10.1074/jbc.M700554200
[9] Carmeliet P, Collen D . Development and disease in proteinase-deficient mice: role of the plasminogen, matrix metalloproteinase and coagulation system[J]. Thromb Res, 1998,91(6):255-285
doi: 10.1016/S0049-3848(98)00122-4
[10] Castellino FJ, Ploplis VA . Structure and function of the plasminogen/plasmin system[J]. Thromb Haemost, 2005,93(4):647-654
doi: 10.1160/TH04-12-0842 pmid: 15841308
[11] Arteel GE . New role of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in alcohol-induced liver injury[J]. J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2008,23(Suppl 1):S54-S59
doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2007.05285.x
[12] Simpson AJ, Booth NA, Moore NR, Bennett B . Distribution of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1) in tissues[J]. J Clin Pathol, 1991,44(2):139-143
doi: 10.1136/jcp.44.2.139 pmid: 496976
[13] Stoop AA, Lupu F, Pannekoek H . Colocalization of thrombin, PAI-1, and vitronectin in the atherosclerotic vessel wall: A potential regulatory mechanism of thrombin activity by PAI-1/vitronectin complexes[J]. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 2000,20(4):1143-1149
doi: 10.1161/01.ATV.20.4.1143
[14] Nicholas SB, Aguiniga E, Ren Y, Kim J, Wong J, Govindarajan N, Noda M, Wang W, Kawano Y, Collins A, Hsueh WA . Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 deficiency retards diabetic nephropathy[J]. Kidney Int, 2005,67(4):1297-1307
doi: 10.1111/j.1523-1755.2005.00207.x pmid: 15780082
[15] Chuang-Tsai S, Sisson TH, Hattori N, Tsai CG, Subbotina NM, Hanson KE, Simon RH . Reduction in fibrotic tissue formation in mice genetically deficient in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1[J]. Am J Pathol, 2003,163(2):445-452
doi: 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)63674-7
[16] Li QH, Qin CY, Lao P . Expression and plasma activity of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in fibrotic live tissues[J]. Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi, 2000,8(4):209-211
李清华, 秦成勇, 劳萍 . 纤溶酶原激活物抑制物在纤维化肝组织中的表达及其血浆活性检测[J]. 中华肝脏病杂志, 2000,8(4):209-211
[17] Bergheim I, Guo L, Davis MA, Duveau I, Arteel GE . Critical role of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in cholestatic liver injury and fibrosis[J]. J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 2006,316(2):592-600
doi: 10.1124/jpet.105.095042 pmid: 16221737
[18] Bai K, Guo CJ . The plasma levels of urokinase plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and the protein expressions of α-SMA and MMP-1 and TIMP-1 in patients with different grades of liver fibrosis[J]. Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi, 2006,14(6):459-461
白凯, 郭存九 . 基质金属蛋白酶和纤溶酶原激活物及其抑制物在肝纤维化进程中的作用[J]., 2006,14(6):459-461
[1] Meng-ya Shan, Ying Dai, Xiao-dan Ren, Jing Zheng, Ke-bin Zhang, Bin Chen, Jun Yan, Zi-hui Xu. Berberine mitigates nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis by downregulating SIRT1-FoxO1-SREBP2 pathway for cholesterol synthesis. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2021, 19(6): 545-554.
[2] Mao-xing Pan, Chui-yang Zheng, Yuan-jun Deng, Kai-rui Tang, Huan Nie, Ji-qian Xie, Dong-dong Liu, Gui-fang Tu, Qin-he Yang, Yu-pei Zhang. Hepatic protective effects of Shenling Baizhu powder, a herbal compound, against inflammatory damage via TLR4/NLRP3 signalling pathway in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease . Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2021, 19(5): 428-438.
[3] Bing-rong Li, Shi-yun Shao, Long Yuan, Ru Jia, Jian Sun, Qing Ji, Hua Sui, Li-hong Zhou, Yi Zhang, Hui Liu, Qi Li, Yan Wang, Bi-meng Zhang. Effects of mild moxibustion on intestinal microbiome and NLRP3 inflammasome in rats with 5-fluorouracil-induced intestinal mucositis. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2021, 19(2): 144-157.
[4] Sitthichai Iamsaard, Supatcharee Arun, Jaturon Burawat, Supataechasit Yannasithinon, Saranya Tongpan, Sudtida Bunsueb, Natthapol Lapyuneyong, Pannawat Choowong-in, Nareelak Tangsrisakda, Chadaporn Chaimontri, Wannisa Sukhorum. Evaluation of antioxidant capacity and reproductive toxicity of aqueous extract of Thai Mucuna pruriens seeds. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2020, 18(3): 265-273.
[5] Morufu Eyitayo Balogun, Elizabeth Enohnyaket Besong, Jacinta Nkechi Obimma, Ogochukwu Sophia Mbamalu, Fankou Serges Athanase Djobissie. Protective roles of Vigna subterranea (Bambara nut) in rats with aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2018, 16(5): 342-349.
[6] Lucky Legbosi Nwidu, Raphael Ellis Teme. Hot aqueous leaf extract of Lasianthera africana (Icacinaceae) attenuates rifampicin-isoniazid-induced hepatotoxicity. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2018, 16(4): 263-272.
[7] Kylie Connolly, Douglas Jackson, Candice Pullen, Andrew Fenning. Alpha-adrenoceptor antagonism by Crassostrea gigas oyster extract inhibits noradrenaline-induced vascular contraction in Wistar rats. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2015, 13(3): 194-200.
[8] Udhaya Lavinya Baskaran, Sherry Joseph Martin, Rasool Mahaboobkhan, Sabina Evan Prince. Protective role of Triphala, an Indian traditional herbal formulation, against the nephrotoxic effects of bromobenzene in Wistar albino rats. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2015, 13(2): 115-121.
[9] Hussein O. B. Oloyede, Matthew C. Adaja, Taofeek O. Ajiboye, Musa O. Salawu. Anti-ulcerogenic activity of aqueous extract of Carica papaya seed on indomethacin-induced peptic ulcer in male albino rats. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2015, 13(2): 105-114.
[10] Anirudha A. Lande, Shirishkumar D. Ambavade, Uma S. Swami, Prafulla P. Adkara Prashant D. Ambavade, Arun B. Waghamare. Saponins isolated from roots of Chlorophytum borivilianum reduce acute and chronic inflammation and histone deacetylase. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2015, 13(1): 25-33.
[11] Elizabeth Abidemi Balogun, Sylvia Orume Malomo, Joseph Oluwatope Adebayo, Ahmed Adebayo Ishola, Ayodele Olufemi Soladoye, Lawrence Aderemi Olatunji, Olatunji Matthew Kolawole, Stephen Olubunmi Oguntoye, Abiola Samuel Babatunde, Oluwole Busayo Akinola . In vivo antimalarial activity and toxicological effects of methanolic extract of Cocos nucifera (Dwarf red variety) husk fibre. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2014, 12(6): 504-511.
[12] Urmila Aswar, Mayuri Gurav, Ganesh More, Khaled Rashed, Manoj Aswar. Effect of aqueous extract of Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad. & Wendl. on postmenopausal syndrome in ovariectomized rats. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2014, 12(5): 439-446.
[13] Chang-qing Zhao, Yang Zhou, Jian Ping, Lie-ming Xu. Traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of liver diseases: Progress, challenges and opportunities. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2014, 12(5): 401-408.
[14] Xin-fang Zhang, Ji Zhu, Wen-ye Geng, Shu-jun Zhao, Chuan-wei Jiang, Sheng-rong Cai, Miao Cheng, Chuan-yun Zhou, Zi-bing Liu. Electroacupuncture at Feishu (BL13) and Zusanli (ST36) down-regulates the expression of orexins and their receptors in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2014, 12(5): 417-424.
[15] Benjamin Perry, Junzeng Zhang, Tarek Saleh, Yanwen Wang. Liuwei Dihuang, a traditional Chinese herbal formula, suppresses chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in obese rats. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2014, 12(5): 447-454.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited

  Shared   
  Discussed   
[1] Jin-zhou Tian, Jing Shi, Xin-qing Zhang, Qi Bi, Xin Ma, Zhi-liang Wang, Xiao-bin Li, Shu-li Shen, Lin Li, Zhen-yun Wu, Li-yan Fang, Xiao-dong Zhao, Ying-chun Miao, Peng-wen Wang, Ying Ren, Jun-xiang Yin, Yong-yan Wang, Beijing United Study Group on MCI of the Capital Foundation of Medical Developments. An explanation on "guiding principles of clinical research on mild cognitive impairment (protocol)". Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 15-21
[2] Yi-ting He, Qing-lin Zha, Jian-ping Yu, Yong Tan, Cheng Lu, Ai-ping Lv. Principal factor analysis of symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and their correlations with efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 32-36
[3] Jun Cai, Hua Wang, Sheng Zhou, Bin Wu, Hua-rong Song, Zheng-rong Xuan. Effect of Sijunzi Decoction and enteral nutrition on T-cell subsets and nutritional status in patients with gastric cancer after operation: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 37-40
[4] Wei Zhang, Xiang-feng Lu, Xiao-mei Zhang, Jian-jun Wu, Liang-duo Jiang. A rat model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by infusing bleomycin quickly through tracheal intubation. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 60-67
[5] A-gao Zhou, Yong Zhang, Gang Kui, De-Yun Kong, Hai-liang Ge, Qiu-hua Ren, Jia-rong Dong, Sheng Hong, Xu-ming Mao, Yin Wang, Hui-zheng Zhang, Shu-jun Wang. Influence of traditional Chinese compound recipes with different efficacy on body weight, tumor weight and immune function in H22 cancer-bearing mice. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 77-82
[6] Guo-hong Yuan, Xiao-jing Pang, He-chao Ma. Synergic effects of Danggui Buxue Decoction in reducing toxicity of cytoxan in tumor-bearing mice. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 83-88
[7] Li Zhou, Hong-xing Zhang, Ling-guang Liu, Wen-jun Wan. Effect of electro-acupuncture at Fenglong (GV 16) on nitric oxide and endothelin in rats with hyperlipidemia. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 89-92
[8] Jin-zhou Tian, Jing Shi, Xin-qing Zhang, Qi Bi, Xin Ma, Zhi-liang Wang, Xiao-bin Li, Shu-li Shen, Lin Li, Zhen-yun Wu, Li-yan Fang, Xiao-dong Zhao, Ying-chun Miao, Peng-wen Wang, Ying Ren, Jun-xiang Yin, Yong-yan Wang, Beijing United Study Group on MCI of the Capital Foundation of Medical Developments. Guiding principles of clinical research on mild cognitive impairment (protocol). Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 9-14
[9] Xin-jun Wang, Ling-ling Wang . A mechanism of endogenous opioid peptides for rapid onset of acupuncture effect in treatment of depression. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1014-1017
[10] Bo Wang , Wei Yan , Li-hui Hou, Xiao-ke Wu. Disorder of Tiangui (kidney essence) and reproductive dysfunction in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1018-1022