Resveratrol can prevent CCl4-induced liver
injury by inhibiting Notch signaling pathway
Gamze Tanriverdi1, Fatma Kaya-Dagistanli2, Sule Ayla3, Sibel Demirci1, Mediha Eser1, Z. Seda Unal4, Mujgan Cengiz2 and Huseyin Oktar1
1Department of Histology and Embryology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, 2Medical Biology Department, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, 3Department of Histology and Embryology, Medipol University Medical Faculty, Istanbul and 4Stem Cell Department, IVF-ET Unit, Kocaeli University, Institute of Health Sciences, Kocaeli, Turkey
Offprint requests to: Gamze Tanriverdi, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Department of Histology and Embryology, 34098-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey. e-mail: gamzetanriverdi@gmail.com
Summary. We investigated whether Notch signaling was increased in an experimental liver fibrosis model and examined the effects of resveratrol on Notch expression. Rats were divided into four groups: the control group, injected with physiological saline; the CCl4 group; the CCl4 plus resveratrol group; and the resveratrol group. After treatment, immunostaining was performed to detect Notch1, Notch3, Notch4, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and TUNEL assays were performed to evaluate apoptosis. Sirius red staining was used to detect fibrosis. Samples were also biochemically evaluated for glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation, and protein oxidation. GSH, GPx, and catalase activities were significantly decreased (p<0.001) in the CCl4 group. Distinct collagen accumulation was detected around the central vein and portal areas, and numbers of Notch1-, Notch3-, and Notch4-positive cells were significantly increased (p<0.001) in fibrotic areas in the CCl4 group. Increased expression of Notch proteins in fibrotic areas may support the role of Notch in mediating signaling associated with liver fibrosis through activation of hepatic stellate and progenitor cells. In contrast, resveratrol prevented liver fibrosis by decreasing lipid peroxidation and may be effective for inhibiting Notch signaling. Histol Histopathol 31, 769-784 (2016)
Key words: Liver fibrosis, Notch signaling, Resveratrol, Liver regeneration, Hepatotoxicity
DOI: 10.14670/HH-11-720