Effects of Simultaneous Downregulation of PHD1 and Keap1 on Prevention and Reversal of Liver Fibrosis in Mice

• Main Authors: Jing Liu, Wencai Li, Manoj H. Limbu, Yiping Li, Zhi Wang, Zhengyuan Cheng, Xiaoyi Zhang, Pingsheng Chen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2018-05-01
• Series: Frontiers in Pharmacology
• Subjects: liver fibrosis; hepatocytes; PHD1; Keap1; hypoxia; oxidative stress
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphar.2018.00555/full

Background and Aim: To investigate whether double-knockdown of PHD1 and Keap1 in mice could enhance the resolution of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis.Methods: The liver fibrosis model of mice was established by intraperitoneal injection of 25% CCl4 in olive oil (4 ul/g) twice a week for 8 weeks. PHD1shRNA and Keap1shRNA eukaryotic expression plasmids were simultaneously administered from the beginning of the first to fourth week (preventive group) or from the fifth to eighth week of CCl4 injection (therapeutic group) via hydrodynamic-based tail vein injection. Successful transfection was confirmed with the expression of red fluorescent protein and green fluorescent protein in hepatocytes. Western blot was used for determining the expression of PHD1 and Keap1, HE, Sirius red, and Masson staining for evaluating the histopathological stages of fibrosis. Immunohistochemical techniques were applied to evaluate the expression of a-SMA.Results: The fluorescence of red and green were observed mainly in hepatocytes, and downregulation of PHD1 and Keap1 expression in liver was detected by western blot. Meanwhile, double-knockdown of PHD1 and Keap1 in mice alleviated liver fibrosis, and the effect was further enhanced especially in the preventive group. Immunocytochemical staining showed decreased expression of a-SMA when both PHD1 and Keap1 were knockdown.Conclusion: Downregulation of PHD1 and Keap1 expression in the liver could be achieved via hydrodynamic injection of PHD1shRNA and Keap1shRNA, thereby, preventing liver fibrosis.