Reversal effect of Jagged1 signaling inhibition on CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats

// Guiju Tang 1 , Zhihong Weng 2 , Jun Song 3 and Yixiong Chen 3 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China 2 Department of Infectious Disease, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China 3 Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China Correspondence to: Yixiong Chen, email: // Keywords : recombinant adeno-associated virus, Jagged1, hepatic fibrosis, hepatic stellate cells, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, Pathology Section Received : November 30, 2016 Accepted : June 02, 2017 Published : June 15, 2017 Abstract The role of the Notch ligand Jagged1 in hepatic fibrosis remains to be elucidated. In the current study, we investigated the role of Jagged1 in the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and development of hepatic fibrosis in rats. In vitro , Jagged1 in HSCs was downregulated and upregulated by Jagged1 siRNA and pcDNA3.1 Jagged1, respectively. The levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and HSC activation markers were assessed using western blot analysis. The proliferation and migration capacity of HSCs were assessed using 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation and Transwell migration assays. In vivo , a recombinant adeno-associated virus type 1 (rAAV1) vector carrying Jagged1 shRNA (rAAV1-Jagged1-shRNA) was constructed and transferred to rat livers via the tail vein. Reversion of liver fibrosis and the effect of Jagged1 signaling on EMT were studied using pathological, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence methods. Our findings revealed that downregulation and upregulation of Jagged1 inhibited and promoted, respectively, HSC activation. The migratory capacity of HSCs was markedly restrained by Jagged1 siRNA. Furthermore, downregulation of Jagged1 suppressed EMT in HSCs. rAAV1-Jagged1-shRNA was generated to treat CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. Treatment with rAAV1-Jagged1-shRNA reversed hepatic fibrosis by decreasing EMT. The results of the present study suggest that inhibition of Jagged1 is a potential treatment to ameliorate liver fibrosis.