Antifibrotic effects of interferon alfa 2B and ocreotide in experimental liver fibrosis

ABSTRACT Antifibrotic effects of interferon a 2b and ocreotide in experimental liver fibrosis Background/aim.' Hepatic fibrosis, the main complication of chronic liver disease is due to sustained hepatocelluler damage. There is not yet effective therapeutic antifibrotic agent for use in liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of chronic administration of ocreotide and interferon a 2b (IFNa 2b) in the prevention of liver fibrosis in rats with carbontetrachloride (CCLO-induced liver fibrosis. Methods: Fourty-eight male Albino-Wistar rats were divided into four equal goups: sham, placebo, IFN a 2b and ocreotide group. Liver fibrosis was induced by the administration of CCU. IFN a 2b was administrated 100.000 IU/day, subcutaneously, 5 days in week for 7 weeks. Ocreotide was administrated 100 Hg/kg, subcutaneously, twice daily for 7 weeks. Liver fibrosis was assessed by histopathological examination, liver hydroxyproline content, serum hyaluronic acid enzyme activity. Results: The severity of fibrosis in the portal tract, peacemeal necrosis and focal necrosis were significantly decreased in the IFN a 2b and ocreotide groups compared with the placebo group (p<0.05). Fibrosis score and hydroxyproline liver content were significantly decreased in IFN a 2b and ocreotide groups compared with the placebo group (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the IFN a 2b and ocreotide groups for fibrosis score (p>0.05). Serum hyaluronic acid enzyme activity was increased IFN a 2b and ocreotide groups compared with the placebo group (pO.001; p<0.01).Conclusions: IFN a 2b and ocreotide are effective to prevent the development of CCU-induced liver fibrosis in the rats. There was not significant difference between the IFN a 2b and ocreotide for antifibrotic effect Further investigations that will be performed in variuos doses and durations are necessary. Key Words: Liver fibrosis, carbontetrachloride, interferon a 2b, ocreotide