{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T15:15:26Z","timestamp":1789571726818,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"2","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Gut"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2010,2]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background and aims<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4\u03b1 (HNF4\u03b1) is a central transcriptional regulator of hepatocyte differentiation and function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of HNF4\u03b1 on attenuation of hepatic fibrosis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The adenoviruses carrying HNF4\u03b1 gene or containing siRNA targeting HNF4\u03b1 were injected through tail vein on two distinct hepatic fibrosis models either induced by dimethylnitrosamine or by bile duct ligation in rats. Moreover, HNF4\u03b1, epithelial\u2013mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related and fibrotic markers in hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and liver tissues were detected by real time PCR, immunofluorescence or immunohistochemistry.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We demonstrated that decreased expression of HNF4\u03b1 and epithelial markers accompanied by enhanced expression of mesenchymal markers occurred in fibrotic liver. More importantly, forced expression of HNF4\u03b1 remarkably alleviated hepatic fibrosis and improved liver function with suppression of EMT in both fibrosis models. In contrast, downregulation of HNF4\u03b1 by siRNA aggravated hepatic fibrosis and decreased the expression of E-cadherin in association with the enhanced expression of vimentin and fibroblast-specific protein-1. In vitro study revealed that HNF4\u03b1 could suppress the EMT process of hepatocytes induced by transforming growth factor-\u03b21 and increase the expression of liver-specific genes. A similar phenomenon of the EMT process was observed during the activation of HSCs, which was abrogated by HNF4\u03b1. Additionally, HNF4\u03b1 deactivated the myofibroblasts through inducing the mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition and inhibited their proliferation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Our study suggests that HNF4\u03b1 is critical for hepatic fibrogenesis and upregulation of HNF4\u03b1 might present as an ideal option for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/gut.2008.174904","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2009,8,11]],"date-time":"2009-08-11T23:03:42Z","timestamp":1250031822000},"page":"236-246","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":145,"title":["Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4\u03b1 attenuates hepatic fibrosis in 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