Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor reduces biliary fibrosis and ductular reaction in a mouse model of chronic cholestasis

Background

Biliary atresia is a rare congenital bile duct disease that is the leading cause of liver fibrosis in neonates. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) is a potential therapy for hepatocellular diseases, but data on GCSF for cholestatic conditions remain limited.

Materials and methods

The current study examines the role of GCSF in improving bile duct obstruction in mice. Two doses were administered: 10.0 μg/kg/day and 61.5 μg/kg/day, which is the animal equivalent dose of 5.0 μg/kg in humans. Seven days (D7) after bile duct ligation (BDL), Swiss mice were treated with phosphate buffered saline or GCSF for 5 days. The intrahepatic adaptive response of BDL mice was evaluated on postsurgical days D12, D19, and D26.

Results

Treatment with 61.5 μg/kg of GCSF resulted in a significant increase in circulating leukocytes and neutrophils on D12. Amelioration of liver injury, as shown by reduced aspartate aminotransferase levels, increased albumin levels and survival rate, as well as reduced intrahepatic inflammation and hepatic myeloperoxidase expression, downregulated ductular proliferation, periportal fibroblast activation, and fibrosis, enhanced expressions of hepatocyte growth factor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha, and ki67, and suppressed expression of cleaved caspase-3 protein, was noted after treatment with 61.5 μg/kg of GCSF. Additionally, GCSF treatment was associated with an increased number of intrahepatic cd3^-Sca1⁺c-Kit⁺ bone marrow cells.

Conclusions

Treatment with 61.5 μg/kg of GCSF resulted in liver regeneration and survival in BDL mice was seen, suggesting its potential use for human liver diseases.