Abstract: AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of Curc-OEG in preventing CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis and to study the effects of that on expression of MMP-13 mRNA,TIMP-1 mRNA and CollagenⅠ.METHODS: Liver fibrosis in rats was induced by CCl₄. Rats were assigned into control group(A),model group(B),low-dose group(C),medium-dose group(D), high-dose group(E) and colchicin group(F).All rats except those in group A were given subcutaneous injection of CCl₄ and olive oil mixture,twice a week for 10 weeks. After 4 weeks, those in group B were treated with normal saline by intravenous injection,those in group C,D and E were treated with Curc-OEG for 25,50,100 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 by intravenous injection, those in group F were treated with colchicin for 0.1 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 by gavage as positive control.At the end of the tenth week, the serum levels of ALT, AST and cotent of hydroxyproline in homogenate were determined. The extent of liver inflammation and fibrosis was evaluated with HE and Sirus staining. The expressions of MMP-13,TIMP-1 and CollagenⅠwere observed with RT-PCR and Western Blot respectively.RESULTS: Compared with model group,medium and high dose of curcumin derivative could obviously decrease the content of hydroxyproline in liver tissue(P<0.05) and levels of ALT, AST in serum(P<0.05) and expression of CollagenⅠ(P<0.05), and it also reduced inflammation destruction of liver architecture and collagen accumulation. Further study showed that MMP-13 mRNA was up-regulated(P<0.05) and TIMP-1 mRNA was down-regulated(P<0.05) after Curc-OEG treatment.CONCLUSION: Curc-OEG could ameliorate the progress of liver fibrosis induced by CCl₄.

Key words: Hepatic fibrosis, Curcumin, Matrix metalloproteinase-13, Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1