CYCLOOXYGENASE-2 SHORT HAIRPIN RNA LIMITS NONALCOHOLICFATTY LIVER DISEASE BY INDUCING LIVER CELL AGING

Guo-Juan Li^1,2, Meng-Jie Peng², Xiao-Bing Wu², Hong-Wu Liao², Li Zhang², Ying Li², Xue-Feng Yang^2*, Hong Chen^1*

¹Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, zhujiang Hospital of southern medical university Guangzhou, 510515 (China) - ²Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421002 (China)

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been involved the initiation and development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), however the mechanism within has still remained unclear. This aim of this study was observe the effects of COX-2 short hairpin RNA (COX-2 shRNA) on the liver cell aging in rats with NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet. 48 SD rats divided randomly into four group (n=12). The rats was induced NAFLD by high fat diet for 12 weeks together with or without COX-2shRNA. Liver fat degeneration and fibrosis was evaluated by Oil red O, HE and MASSON Staining according to the METAVIR scoring system, and liver tissue cell aging by β -galactose glucoside enzyme staining, COX-2 and a- SMA mRNA expression of liver tissue by real-time fluorescent quan- titative PCR. The serum cerealthirdtransaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), trigly-cerides (TG )levels was investigate by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results of this study found liver steatosis degree, liver tissue lipid variable area and liver fibrosis in rats with COX-2shRNA significantly attenuated, and the serum levels of ALT,AST,TC,TG in rats with COX-2shRNA significantly improved. These data suggest COX-2shRNA limits the development of NAFLD through inducing liver cell aging.