Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression and effect of Vinculin in the mouse model of liver fibrosis.Methods Twenty-five adult male mice were randomly divided into a control group (n=10) and an experimental group (n=15). The experimental group was subcutaneously injected with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-corn oil mixture (6ml/kg mass) 2 times/week, and the control group was subcutaneously injected with corn oil at the same dose. After 8 weeks of modeling, the changes of liver structure were observed through the tissue of middle liver lobe using HE staining and Masson staining. The expression and cell localization of desmine and Vinculin in the liver were detected by immunohistochemistry. Vinculin were knocked down in human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 by transient transfection of small interfering RNA. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western Blot was performed to investigate the impact of knocking down Vinculin on desmin and alpha SMA expression. The content of type Ⅰ collagen fiber after knocking down Vinculin was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results After 8-week CCl4 treatment, collagen fibers increased in the portal and perilobular areas, and pseudolobule formation was observed. The immunohistochemistry showed that the number of desmin and Vinculin positive cells increased in the experimental group compared with the control group with significant differences (P<0.05), and that Vinculin was specifically expressed on the membrane of activated stellate cells. The qPCR showed that the expression of desmine and alpha SMA decreased after knocking out Vinculin with significant differences (P<0.05), and that the content of type I collagen fiber didn't decrease significantly.Conclusion Vinculin mediates the activation of hepatic stellate cells.

Key words: Vinculin, Hepatic stellate cells, Carbon tetrachloride, Liver fibrosis, Mice