Curcumin protects against hepatic stellate cells activation and migration by inhibiting the CXCL12/CXCR4 biological axis in liver fibrosis：A study in vitro and in vivo

The C-X-C motif chemokine 12/C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCL12/ CXCR4) biological axis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis . Curcumin is known to have an anti-fibrosis effect, but the specific mechanism needs to be elucidated. There is currently no evidence illustrating a connection between curcumin and the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in liver fibrosis . Here, we investigated the contribution of curcumin on CXCL12/ CXCR4 biological axis in liver fibrosis. Our results showed that curcumin remarkably improved hepatic function and liver fibrosis, and the effects are similar as silymarin . The alleviation of liver fibrosis with curcumin treatment was associated with a reduction of CXCL12, CXCR4, α-SMA and RhoA. In addition, curcumin markedly inhibited the proliferation and migration of HSC-T6 cells. This study indicates that curcumin could protect against hepatic stellate cells activation and migration by inhibiting the CXCL12/CXCR4 biological axis in liver fibrosis.