Diethylcarbamazine Reduces Chronic Inflammation and Fibrosis in Carbon Tetrachloride- (CCl4-)‎ Induced Liver Injury in Mice

Abstract EN

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of DEC on the CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in C57BL/6 mice.

Chronic inflammation was induced by i.p.

administration of CCl4 0.5 μL/g of body weight through two injections a week for 6 weeks.

DEC (50 mg/kg) was administered by gavage for 12 days before finishing the CCl4 induction.

Histological analyses of the DEC-treated group exhibited reduced inflammatory process and prevented liver necrosis and fibrosis.

Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analyses of the DEC-treated group showed reduced COX-2, IL1β, MDA, TGF-β, and αSMA immunopositivity, besides exhibiting decreased IL1β, COX-2, NFκB, IFNγ, and TGFβ expressions in the western blot analysis.

The DEC group enhanced significantly the IL-10 expression.

The reduction of hepatic injury in the DEC-treated group was confirmed by the COX-2 and iNOS mRNA expression levels.

Based on the results of the present study, DEC can be used as a potential anti-inflammatory drug for chronic hepatic inflammation.