Expression of ASMase in alcoholic liver fibrosis in rats

Objective To investigate the expression of the lysosomal enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) in alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis using a rat model.Methods The model of liver fibrosis was induced by administration of alcohol and high fat diet using 20 rats.Six rats given no alcohol and normal diet served as the control group.Real-time PCR,western blotting,and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate fibrosis-related changes in the mRNA and protein expressions of ASMase.Results The fibrotie liver tissues of the model rats showed significantly higher expression levels of ASMase than the non-fibrotie liver tissues of the control rats (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Expression of ASMase is increased in the fibrotic liver tissue of an alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis rat model,suggesting that this lysosomal enzyme may contribute to development of this disease condition. Key words: Liver cirrhosis;  Rats;  Acid sphigomylinase