Abstract: Objective To observe the dynamic variety of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) in the development of alcoholic liver fibrosis in rats, and further investigate the role of FGF21 in alcoholic liver fibrosis.Methods Male SD rats weighing 240-280g were randomly divided into blank group, carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) group and model group. The model was built with 10 mL/kg of alcohol mixture (56 DEG of alcohol: corn oil: pyrazole =5∶1∶10) by gavage daily and 0.3 ml/kg CCl₄ mixture (CCl₄∶olive oil =1∶3) by intraperitoneal injection twice a week for 12 weeks. The rats were sacrificed at week 4, 8, 10 and 12, respectively. Pathological changes in liver tissue were observed. Immunohistochemistry, western blot and fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to measure FGF21 expression.Results Compared with blank group, the severity of liver fibrosis in model group was significantly increased. Level of FGF21 was significantly increased at week 4 (1.06±0.10 vs 0.23± 0.01, P<0.05), and then gradually increased till week 10 (1.36±0.16 vs 1.06±0.10, P<0.05), while significantly decreased at week 12 compared with that at week 10 (1.08±0.11 vs 1.36±0.16, P<0.05).Conclusion FGF21 might play a key role in the development of alcoholic liver fibrosis. Level of FGF21 was elevated under stress during liver injury and decreased when fibrosis developed. Therefore, increasing the level of FGF21 might be a potential target for treatment of alcoholic liver fibrosis.

Key words: Alcoholic liver fibrosis, Fibroblast growth factor -21, Dynamic changes