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Dietary olive oil prevents carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice

  • Original Article—Liver, Pancreas, and Biliary Tract
  • Published:
Journal of Gastroenterology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aim

The specific purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary olive oil on hepatic fibrosis induced by chronic administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in the mouse. In addition, the effects of oleic acid, a major component of olive oil, on activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were investigated in vitro.

Methods

Mice were fed liquid diets containing either corn oil (control, AIN-93) or olive oil (6.25 g/L) throughout experiments. Animals were treated with CCl4 for 4 weeks intraperitoneally. The mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and collagen 1α2 (col1α2) in the liver was assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The HSCs were isolated from mice, and co-cultured with either oleic acid (100 μM) or linoleic acid (100 μM) for 2 days. The expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was assessed by immunohistochemistry. In addition, the production of hydroxyproline was determined.

Results

Serum alanine aminotransferase levels and the mRNA expression of TGF-β and collα2 were significantly reduced by treatment of olive oil. Dietary olive oil blunted the expression of α-SMA in the liverand liver injury and hepatic fibrosis were prevented by treatment of olive oil. The number of α-SMA positive cells was significantly lower in HSCs co-cultured with oleic acid than in those co-cultured with linoleic acid. Concentration of hydroxyproline in culture medium was significantly lower in cells co-cultured with oleic acid than in the control.

Conclusions

Dietary olive oil prevents CCl4-induced tissue injury and fibrosis in the liver. Since oleic acid inhibited activation of HSCs, oleic acid may play a key role on this mechanism.

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Abbreviations

CCl4 :

Carbon tetrachloride

HSC:

Hepatic stellate cell

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

TGF-β1:

Transforming growth factor-β1

α-SMA:

α-Smooth muscle actin

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. First Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuo, Yamanashi, 409-3898, Japan

    Nobuyuki Tanaka, Hiroshi Kono, Kenichi Ishii, Naohiro Hosomura & Hideki Fujii

Authors
  1. Nobuyuki Tanaka
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  2. Hiroshi Kono
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  3. Kenichi Ishii
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  4. Naohiro Hosomura
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  5. Hideki Fujii
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Correspondence to Hiroshi Kono.

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Tanaka, N., Kono, H., Ishii, K. et al. Dietary olive oil prevents carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice. J Gastroenterol 44, 983–990 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-009-0088-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-009-0088-9

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