Tiribelli C

Language: English
References: 0
Page: 4
PDF size: 49.57 Kb.

Text Extraction

Genistein Decreases Liver Fibrosis and Cholestasis Induced by Prolonged Biliary Obstruction in the Rat by Alfonso Leija Salas

Genistein is a soy-derived isoflavone shown to have several, unrelated pharmaceutical effects. Genistein is a potent tyrosine kinase inhibitor which results in the inhibition of either growth factor- and cytokine-stimulated proliferation of cells. Genistein has also been shown to affect the in vitro metabolism of stellate cells where inhibits the TGF-β1-stimulated collagen synthesis, increases cell proliferation and inhibits the intensity of c-fos, c-jun, and cyclin D1 expression collectively indicating an antifibrotic activity. This work reports the effect of genistein in the biliary obstructed rat, a well established in vivo model of hepatic fibrosis. Genistein administration after the establishment of a hepatic fibrosis was followed by a reduction of the hepatic content of collagen, probably related to an increased degradation of type 1. This was associated with a 5 times reduction in the serum bilirubin level as compared to untreated animals and a 3 times reduction of alkaline phosphatase activity. Although no information was provided on the mechanism(s) of the in vivo antifibrotic effect(s), this is an important piece of information which may open new avenues in the treatment of human liver fibrosis/cirrhosis. Having the possibility to shift the balance linking deposition and removing of scar tissue towards removal may be crucial. However, we must be careful before extrapolating what demonstrated in the predictable rat model to the much more complex one of human cirrhosis. In spite of these caveats, this study may pave the way to a controlled clinical trial where the antifibrotic effect may be assessed, particularly since new non invasive tests of fibrosis (Fibroscan as a good example) are becoming available.