Inhibitory effect of dietary capsaicin on liver fibrosis in mice.

Abstract

SCOPE:

Virtually all chronic liver injuries result in the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). In their activated state, these cells are the main collagen-producing cells implicated in liver fibrosis. Capsaicin (CPS), the active compound of chili peppers, can modulate the activation and migration of HSCs in vitro. Here, we evaluated the potential protective and prophylactic effects of CPS related to cholestatic and hepatotoxic-induced liver fibrosis and its possible underlying mechanism of action.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Male Balb/c mice received dietary CPS after 3 days of bile duct ligation (BDL) or before and during carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) injections. Mice receiving dietary CPS after BDL had a significant improvement of liver fibrosis accompanied by a decrease in collagen deposition and downregulation of activation markers in isolated HSCs. In the CCl4 model, dietary CPS inhibited the upregulation of profibrogenic markers. However, CPS could not attenuate the CCl4 -induced fibrosis when it was already established. Furthermore, in vitro CPS treatment inhibited the autophagic process during HSC activation.

CONCLUSION:

Dietary CPS has potential benefits in the therapy of cholestatic liver fibrosis and in the prophylaxis of hepatotoxic-induced liver injury.

• Authors: Shanna Bitencourt, Leslie Stradiot, Stefaan Verhulst, Lien Thoen, Inge Mannaerts, Leo A van Grunsven
• Journal: Molecular nutrition & food research (Mol Nutr Food Res) Vol. 59 Issue 6 Pg. 1107-16 (Jun 2015) ISSN: 1613-4133 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 25755097 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Chemical References

• Carbon Tetrachloride
• Capsaicin

Topics

• Animals
• Bile Ducts (surgery)
• Capsaicin (pharmacology)
• Carbon Tetrachloride
• Cholestasis (drug therapy)
• Diet
• Disease Models, Animal
• Down-Regulation
• Hepatic Stellate Cells (drug effects, metabolism)
• Ligation
• Liver (drug effects, metabolism)
• Liver Cirrhosis (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Up-Regulation