Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) gene therapy attenuates CCl4-induced liver injury and fibrosis in rats

Liver fibrosis represents a process of healing and scarring in response to chronic liver injury. Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) has been shown to protect hepatocytes from various toxins. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ALR gene therapy on liver injury and fibrosis induced by CCl4 in rats and further explore the underlying mechanisms. Human ALR expression plasmid was delivered via the tail vein. ALR gene therapy might protect the liver from CCl4-induced injury and fibrogenesis by attenuating the mitochondrial dysfunction, suppressing oxidative stress, and inhibiting activation of HSCs. This report demonstrated that ALR gene therapy protected against the ATP loss, increased the activity of ATPase, decreased intrahepatic reactive oxygen species level, and down-regulated transforming growth factor-β1, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, and α-smooth muscle actin expression. Following gene transfer liver function tests were significantly improved. In brief, ALR gene therapy might be an effective therapeutic reagent for liver fibrosis with potential clinical applications.

► ALR gene transfer to the fibrotic liver successfully.
► ALR gene therapy attenuates CCl4-induced liver injury and fibrosis in rats.
► ALR may improve the mitochondrial dysfunction in vivo.
► ALR gene therapy suppresses HSCs activation and decreases profibrogenic factors expression.