Abstract: Objective To study the dynamic changes in the expression of nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB)and transforming growth factor beta-1(TGF-β₁)in the development of middle and late stage of rat hepatic fibrosis,and the effect of liver-aid tablets on them.Methods SD rats were divided into three groups:normal control,model control and group of liver-aid tablets.CCl₄(12.5%,4ml·kg^-1)was injected sub-cutaneously in model rat twice a week for 8 and 13 weeks.The drug(921mg·kg^-1 in the group of liver-aid tablets,but 0.5% CMC-Na in control groups)was taken orally once a day for 8 and 13 weeks.The rats were killed at the end of 8th and 13th week,respectively.The left liver tissue was then used to make tissue microarrays(TMA).The TMA sections were used for Immunohistochemistry(IHC)to detect the protein expression of NF-κB p65 and TGF-β₁.The NF-κB p65 and TGF-β₁ Results of IHC were quantified by MetaMorph imaging analysis system.Results (1)During 8 and 13 weeks,the degrees of liver injury and fibrosis grades in the model group were higher than those in the normal group(P＜0.01),which was amelionated remarkably by liver-aid tablets treatment.(2)The protein expression of NF-κB p65 and TGF-β₁ in the model group was stronger than that in the normal group during 8 and 13 weeks(P＜0.01),the protein expression of NF-κB p65 and TGF-β₁ were correlated to each other during 8 and 13 weeks(P＜0.01).(3)Liver-aid tablets inhibited the protein expression of NF-κB p65 and TGF-β₁ of fibrotic liver tissue in rats during 8 and 13 weeks(P＜0.01).Conclusion Liver-aid tablets have anti-fibrosis effects on CCl₄-induced rat liver fibrosis,which might be performed through the pathway of inhibiting the expression of NF-κB and TGF-β₁.

Key words: Hepatic fibrosis/Pathology, Liver-aid tablets, Aantituberculous medicines, Liver fibrosis