Journal of hepatology
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Journal of hepatology · Nov 2003
A blocking peptide for transforming growth factor-beta1 activation prevents hepatic fibrosis in vivo.
Thrombospondin-1 is a major activator of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), and a peptide derived from the latency-associated peptide, Leu-Ser-Lys-Leu (LSKL), inhibits the activation of TGF-beta1. In this study, the effects of LSKL on the hepatocyte damage and fibrogenesis in dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced rat liver fibrosis were examined. ⋯ The LSKL peptide prevented the progression of hepatic damage and fibrosis through the inhibition of TGF-beta1 activation and its signal transduction in vivo.