Dynamic expression of β-catenin in rat models of hepatic fibrosis and its significance

Objective To explore the expression and significance of β-catenin (the core factor of wnt signaling pathway) in rat models of hepatic fibrosis.Methods The hepatic fibrosis of rat was induced by intraperitoneal injection of DMN.The changes in serum ALT, AST, TBill and ALB were tested on day 4 and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks after injection.The Histopathologic changes of the liver were observed with HE and MASSON stain.The β-catenin mRNA was detected by RT-PCR dynamically at 4 days, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after injection.Results β-catenin mRNA could be detected in normal rat liver.But with the development of hepatic fibrosis, β-catenin mRNA expression level increased gradually.The expression reached its peak at 4 weeks after injection, and decreased at 8 weeks after injection, but remained relatively high level above normal range.And the expression of β-catenin mRNA was positively correlated with the hepatic fibrosis stages (rs=0.926, P<0.001) .Conclusion β-catenin may involve in the genesis of hepatic fibrosis and closely related to the development of liver fibrosis.