Attenuation of experimental liver fibrosis by hepatocyte growth factor gene delivery mediated by adenovirus

The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), originally identified and cloned as a potent mitogen for hepatocytes, has an essential part in the development and regeneration of the liver. In this study, HGF expression in vitro and in vivo was determined using ELISA. Rats were injected subcutaneously with CCl4 for eight weeks to induce liver fibrosis, and then divided randomly into groups for administration of various doses of adenovirus HGF (Ad-HGF) or vehicle. All rats were sacrificed 8 weeks after obtaining samples of serum and hepatic tissue. The results showed that glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), and total bilirubin (TBil) in serum were significantly recovered after gene therapy (P<0.05). Ad-HGF also attenuated the expression of TGF-beta 1 and the deposition of collagen. We conclude that intravenous administration of Ad-HGF may be useful for the treatment of fibrotic liver by promoting liver function recovery and collagenolytic capacities.