Effects of matrine on oval cell-mediated liver regeneration and expression of RBP-Jκ and HES1

Abstract

In the present study a rat model of oval cell-mediated liver regeneration was constructed to examine the molecular mechanisms of matrine in oval cell-mediated liver regeneration and the effects of matrine on hepatic function and the expression of OV6 protein and recombination signal sequence-binding protein Jκ (RBP-Jκ) and HES1 mRNA. A total of 48 Sprague Dawley rats were equally and randomly assigned to two groups. The model group underwent oval cell-mediated liver regeneration, whereas the matrine group underwent oval cell-mediated liver regeneration and received oral gavage of matrine. Expression of OV6 protein was tested by immunohistochemistry and RBP-Jκ and HES1 mRNA expression was determined by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Recovery of hepatic function was faster in the matrine group compared with the model (P<0.05). OV6 protein, RBP-Jκ and HES1 mRNA expression levels were lower in the matrine than the model group (P<0.05). Matrine promotes oval cell-mediated liver regeneration through downregulation of the RBP-Jκ-HES1 signaling pathway.