Angiotensin receptor blockers are superior to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in the suppression of hepatic fibrosis in a bile duct-ligated rat model

Moon Young Kim, Soon Koo Baik, Dong Hun Park, Yoon Ok Jang, Ki Tae Suk, Chang Jin Yea, Il Young Lee, Jae Woo Kim, Hyun Soo Kim, Sang Ok Kwon, Mi Yun Cho, Sang Baik Ko, Sei Jin Chang, Soon Ho Um, Kwang Hyub Han

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Angiotensin blockade such as with an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) or angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) has antifibrotic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the antifibrotic effect between ARBs and ACEIs. Methods: Common bile duct-ligated (BDL) adult Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to five groups (each group, n = 8) as follows: G1, BDL without drug; G2, BDL + captopril 100 mg/kg per day; G3, BDL + ramipril 10 mg/kg per day; G4, BDL + losartan 10 mg/kg per day; G5, BDL + irbesartan 15 mg/ kg per day. Four weeks post-BDL, hepatic fibrosis was analyzed histomorphologically using Batts and Ludwig scores. α-Smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression by immunohistochemical staining, hydroxyproline contents of liver tissue by spectrophotometry, and angiotensin receptor, collagen, procollagen, and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) expressions were evaluated by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Angiotensin receptor expression was also determined by Western blotting. Results: Batts and Ludwig scores were 3.8, 2.6, 2.4, 1.8, and 1.6 in G1, G2, G3, G4, and G5, respectively. Histologically, ARB groups (G4, G5) showed significant suppression of hepatic fibrosis compared with ACEI groups or the control. Expressions of α-SMA (%) and the content of hydroxyproline (μg liver tissue) were significantly lower in ARB groups (G4, G5) than in ACEI groups (G2, G3) (P < 0.05). Also, ARB reduced the expression of angiotensin receptor, collagen, procollagen, and TGF-β1 compared with ACEI. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of angiotensin receptor was inhibited in both ARB and ACEI groups. Conclusions: Both ARB and ACEI attenuate hepatic fibrosis through inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation, and the inhibitory effect of ARBs on hepatic fibrosis is superior to that of ACEIs in the BDL rat model.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)889-896
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Gastroenterology
Volume43
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Angiotensin II receptor blocker
  • Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor
  • Hepatic fibrosis
  • Hepatic stellate cell

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Gastroenterology

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