Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids prevent progression of liver fibrosis and promote liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in cirrhotic rats

Y. Yang, C. Shao, W. Zhang, G. Wang, D.-C. Lu, W. Han, Z.-S. Wu, C.-B. Chen

Department of Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China. chaobochenwuxi@163.com

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• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) on liver regeneration of rats with liver cirrhosis after hepatectomy and antifibrosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were intravenously injected in n-3 PUFA group 3 days before the operation to 1 day after partial hepatectomy. 70% hepatectomy was performed in rats, which were subsequently divided into 4 groups, namely normal and hepatectomy group (PH); liver cirrhosis and hepatectomy group (LC+PH); liver cirrhosis, n-3 PUFA (1 mL/kg), and hepatectomy group (LC+n-3 PUFA+PH); liver cirrhosis, n-3 PUFA (2 mL/kg) and hepatectomy group (LC+n-3PUFA*+PH). Body/liver weight ratios, serum parameters, histopathological examination, immunostaining, inflammatory cytokine and quantification of mRNA expression were also investigated.

RESULTS: Liver regeneration was significantly delayed compared with PH group 7 days after hepatectomy (PH) in LC+PH group. Besides, liver regeneration of LC+n-3 PUFA*+PH group increased significantly compared with LC+PH group 7 days after PH. In LC+PH group, liver cirrhotic was significantly higher compared with LC+n-3 PUFA+PH group 7 days after PH. In the meantime, liver cirrhosis of LC+n-3 PUFA*+PH group was significantly reduced compared with LC+n-3 PUFA+PH group 7 days after PH. Anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was increased and pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 was decreased in LC+n-3 PUFA*+PH group compared with LC+PH group. N-3 PUFA also suppressed increments in mRNA expression for transforming growth factor-β and up-regulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and matrix metalloproteinase-1 in the liver.

CONCLUSIONS: The mentioned results clearly show that n-3 PUFA reduces liver fibrosis and promotes liver regeneration, even under cirrhotic conditions. This could be a potentially useful treatment for liver cirrhosis.

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