Lee PC, Yang YY, Lee WP, Lee KC, Hsieh YC, Lee TY, Lin HC. Comparative portal hypotensive effects as propranolol of vitamin D₃ treatment by decreasing intrahepatic resistance in cirrhotic rats.
J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2015;
30:628-37. [PMID:
25187428 DOI:
10.1111/jgh.12721]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM
Vitamin D₃ improves portal hypertension (PH) through the activation of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in cirrhotic rats. Propranolol is a non-selective β-blocker that is recommended for the treatment of PH. The present study aims to investigate the detail systemic and hepatic mechanisms of vitamin D₃ and propranolol, alone or in combination, in cirrhotic rats.
METHODS
Common bile duct-ligated and thioacetamide cirrhotic rats were treated with vehicle, propranolol (30 mg/kg/day), vitamin D₃ (0.5 μg/100 g/day, twice weekly), or propranolol + vitamin D₃, separately.
RESULTS
Significantly, propranolol and vitamin D₃ produced a similar magnitude of reduction in portal venous pressure (PVP) in cirrhotic rats through different mechanisms: whereas propranolol decreased PVP by reducing splanchnic hyperemia and cardiac index, vitamin D₃ decreased PVP by decreasing intrahepatic resistance (IHR). However, propranolol + vitamin D₃ did not further decrease PVP in cirrhotic rats. Notably, a marked decrease in hepatic VDR and CaSR expressions was noted in cirrhotic human/rat livers compared with non-cirrhotic human/rat livers. In cirrhotic rats, vitamin D₃ administration decreasing IHR by inhibiting the renin-angiotensin system, hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation/fibrosis, angiotensin II (ANGII) production, CaSR-mediated ANGII hyperresponsiveness, ANGII-induced hepatic stellate cells contraction, and correcting hepatic endothelial dysfunction through upregulation of hepatic VDR, CaSR, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase expressions.
CONCLUSION
Chronic vitamin D₃ treatment alone results in comparative portal hypotensive effects as propranolol alone in cirrhotic rats with PH. Taken together, chronic vitamin D₃ administration was an ideal alternative strategy to effectively improve PH without unwanted systemic side-effects.
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