Liver cirrhosis

Influence of interleukin-7 on hepatic pathology in mice with liver fibrosis

AIM: To observe the influence of interleukin-7 (IL-7) on hepatic pathology in mice with liver fibrosis.

METHODS: Hepatic fibrosis was induced in mice by subcutaneous injection of CCl₄. Eighteen female Balb/c mice were equally and randomly divided into three groups: a control group (A), a fibrosis model group (B) and an IL-7 intervention group (C). Four weeks after modeling, the mice were killed to observe liver tissues and pathological changes by HE staining, reticular fiber staining and Masson staining. The Ishaki scoring system was used to assess the severity of hepatic pathological changes.

RESULTS: Hepatic fibrosis was successfully induced with CCl₄, and significant fibrosis around the portal area and formation of spiky fibers and fibrous septa were observed. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, reticular fiber staining and Masson staining showed that compared to group B, liver fibrosis and inflammation in group C were relieved significantly. There were no inflammatory cells or fibers in group A. Based on the Ishaki scoring of the degree of inflammation, in group A 6 mice scored 0-3 points, 0 scored 4-6 points, 0 scored 7-9 points, 0 scored 10-14 points, and 0 scored 15-18 points; the corresponding figures were 0, 0, 1, 2, and 3 in group B and 0, 1, 3, 2, and 0 in group C. For hepatic fibrosis score, in group A 5, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0 mice scored 0 to 6 points, respectively, and the corresponding figures were 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 2, and 2 in group B and 0, 1, 1, 2, 2, 0, and 0 in group C. There were significant differences in the degrees of inflammation and fibrosis between the three groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: IL-7 can mitigate hepatic fibrosis and relieve liver inflammation in mice with hepatic fibrosis.