目的研究转化生长因子(TGF)β1的小干扰RNA(siRNA)对CCl4诱导肝纤维化大鼠TGFβ1/Smad信号通路的影响。方法以前期研究的TGFβ siRNA治疗前后肝纤维化大鼠肝脏组织作为研究对象,分为正常组,模型组、TGFβ1 siRNA0.125mg/kg组、TGFβ1 siRNA0.25mg/kg组和阴性对照组(0.25mg/kg非特异性靶序列)。用免疫组织化学和Western blot检测Smad2、3、4、7的蛋白表达;Real-time PCR法检测Smad2、3、4、7的mRNA表达。多组间数据比较用方差分析,两两比较采用q检验。结果免疫组织化学结果显示TGF-β siRNA0.25mg/kg组及0.125mg/kg组Smad2/3、4的蛋白表达量较模型组、阴性对照组明显减少(F值分别为115.538,117.178,P〈0.01),TGFβ1 siRNA 25mg/kg组表达量较0.125mg/kg组少(P〈0.05)。TGFβ1 siNA0.25mg/kg组及0.125mg/kg组Smad7的蛋白表达量较模型组、阴性对照组增加(F=125.34,P〈0.01),TGFβ1 siRNA0.25mg/kg组表达量较0.125mg/kg组多(P〈0.05)。Western blot结果与之相似。Real-time PCR结果显示,与模型组和阴性对照组比较,TGFβ1 siRNA可以明显抑制Smad2、3、4基因的表达,且TGFβ1 siRNA0.25mg/kg组Smad2、3、4的mRNA表达量(相对表达量分别为2.870±0.705、2.904±0.414、2.667±0.466)较TGFβ1积NA0.125mg/kg组(相对表达量分别为5.998±0.329、5.827±0.781、5.102±0.102)明显减少(P〈0.05)。TGFβ1 siRNA0.25mg/kg组及0.125rng/kg组Smad7的mRNA表达量较模型组、阴性对照组增加(F=29.615,P〈0.01),TGFβ1 siRNA0.25mg/kg组表达量较0.125mg/kg组多(P〈0.05)。结论TGFβ1 siRNA干扰大鼠TGFβ1表达后,Smad2、3、4表达量明显降低,而Smad7表达仍维持在较高水平,这利于肝纤维化的改善。
Objective To investigate the changes in Smad 2, 3, 4 and 7 of the transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)/Smad signaling pathways in carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)-induced hepatic fibrosis rats treated with TGF-β1 small interferring (si)RNA. Methods Rats were randomly divided among five groups: non-fibrotic (normal); fibrosis-induced (model); fibrotic treated with 0.125 mg/kg TGF-β1 siRNA; fibrotic treated with 0.250 mg/kg TGF-β1 siRNA; and fibrotic treated with negative control TGF-β1 siRNA. The expression of Smad 2, 3, 4 and 7 was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (for mRNA), immunohistochemistry and Western blotting (for protein). Results The mRNA and protein levels of Smad 2, 3 and 4 were significantly lower in the the fibrotic rats treated with either 0.250 mg/kg or 0.125 mg/kg TGF-β1 siRNA than in the fibrotic model or the negative control TGF-β1 siRNA rats (P 〈 0.01). Moreover, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Smad 2, 3 and 4 were significantly lower in the 0.250 mg/kg TGF-β1 siRNA group than in the 0.125 mg/kg group (P 〈 0.05). Comparing the 0.250 mg/kg and 0.125 mg/kg TGF-β1 siRNA groups to the model group and the TGF-β1 siRNA negative control group showed significantly increased levels of mRNA and protein expression of Smad 7 (P 〈 0.01). In addition, the expression levels of Smad 7 were significantly higher in the 0.250 mg/kg TGF-β1 siRNA group than in the 0.125 mg/kg group (P 〈 0.05). Conclusions siRNA-mediated silencing of TGF-β1 in rats led to significantly reduced expression of Smad 2, 3 and 4, but significantly increased expression of Smad 7. TGF-β1 regulation of Smad signaling molecules may contribute to hepatic fibrosis in rats and represent a target of future therapeutic intervention.