Effective Prevention of Liver Fibrosis by Liver-targeted Hydrodynamic Gene Delivery of Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 in a Rat Liver Fibrosis Model.

ABSTRACT: Liver fibrosis is the final stage of liver diseases that lead to liver failure and cancer. While various diagnostic methods, including the use of serum marker, have been established, no standard therapy has been developed. The objective of this study was to assess the approach of overexpressing matrix metalloproteinase-13 gene (MMP13) in rat liver to prevent liver fibrosis progression. A rat liver fibrosis model was established by ligating the bile duct, followed by liver-targeted hydrodynamic gene delivery of a MMP13 expression vector, containing a CAG promoter-MMP13-IRES-tdTomato-polyA cassette. After 14 days, the serum level of MMP13 peaked at 71.7 pg/ml in MMP13-treated group, whereas the nontreated group only showed a level of ~5 pg/ml (P < 0.001). These levels were sustained for the

SUBMITTER: Abe H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5012547 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature