Accelerated CCl4-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Hjv-/- Mice, Associated with an Oxidative Burst and Precocious Profibrogenic Gene Expression
2011

Iron-Dependent Liver Fibrogenesis in Mice

Sample size: 32 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Sebastiani Giada, Gkouvatsos Kostas, Maffettone Carmen, Busatto Graziella, Guido Maria, Pantopoulos Kostas

Primary Institution: Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Hypothesis

Hepatic iron overload exacerbates liver damage and fibrogenesis in Hjv-/- mice treated with CCl4.

Conclusion

Hjv-/- mice show accelerated liver damage and fibrosis due to iron overload when treated with CCl4.

Supporting Evidence

  • Hjv-/- mice developed earlier and more severe liver damage compared to wild type mice.
  • Serum ferritin levels increased dramatically in Hjv-/- mice after CCl4 treatment.
  • Hepatic iron overload was confirmed by histological analysis.
  • Profibrogenic gene expression was significantly higher in Hjv-/- mice.
  • Oxidative stress markers were elevated in Hjv-/- mice even without CCl4 treatment.

Takeaway

Mice with a genetic condition that causes iron overload get hurt faster and worse when given a liver toxin compared to normal mice.

Methodology

Hjv-/- and wild type mice were treated with CCl4 to induce liver injury, and various biochemical and histological analyses were performed.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in interpretation due to the use of a single animal model.

Limitations

The study primarily focuses on a specific mouse model, which may not fully replicate human conditions.

Participant Demographics

Hjv-/- mice and wild type controls, both maintained on an inbred background.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.0001

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0025138

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