Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and its pathogenic effects in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and its pathological effect in the experimental nonalcoholic fatty liver of rats, and to explore its possible mechanism.MethodsThe rat NAFLD model was established by giving a fat-enriched diet. The blood samples were obtained form abdominal aorta and the levels of serum ALT, AST and IL-1, changes in the hepatic tissue 6-k-PGFl a TXB2 were measured. The expression level of COX-2 in rats livers were assayed by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and Western-blot.ResultsLight microscope analysis revealed that hepatocytes were injured in the model group and slightly in the treatment group. The levels of serum TXB2 and IL-1 in the fatty liver rats were increased. Compared with the model group, the IL-1 and TXB2 increased significantly(P < 0.05), on the contrary, compared with the normal group, the hepatic tissue 6-Keto-prostagland decreased significantly in the model group(P < 0.05), the treatment group also increased but P > 0.05. There was no positive expression of COX-2 in hepatic tissue of normal rats. In the model group, there was positive expression of COX-2 antigen and the number of COX positive cells progressively increased at 4, 8, 12 wks. The intensity of expression of COX-2 had significantly increased(P < 0.05) and the intensity of COX-2 expression in the treated group decreased remarkably compared with the model group(P < 0.05). The expression of COX-2 mRNA and the level of COX-2 protein were significantly stronger in the liver of model rats compared with normal rats, and significantly weaker in treated rats, than in 8W and 12W model rats(P < 0.05).ConclusionThe increase of COX-2 expression in NAFLD is closely associated with the severity of liver inflammation and damage. COX-2 may play an important role in the progression of rat NAFLD, and the expression of COX-2 mRNA is downregulated by cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, which can depress the oxidative stress and control inflammatory response efficiently.