Methyl donor ameliorates CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis by inhibiting inflammation, and fibrosis through the downregulation of EGFR and DNMT-1 expression

Methyl donors regulate the one-carbon metabolism and have significant potential to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the protective effect of methyl donors against CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis was induced in male Sprague Dawley rats using CCl₄ at a dose of 1ml/kg (twice a week for a 4-week, via intraperitoneal route). Subsequently, methyl donor treatments were given orally for the next six weeks while continuing CCl₄ administration. After 10 weeks, biochemical, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and qRT-PCR were performed. Methyl donor treatment significantly ameliorated ALT, AST, ALP levels, and oxidative stress associated with CCl₄-induced liver injury. The histopathological investigation also demonstrated the hepatoprotective effect of methyl donors against CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis, showing reduced tissue damage, collagen deposition, and attenuating the expression of the COL1A1 gene. Further, methyl donors inhibited the CCl₄-induced increase in DNMT-1 and NF-κB p65 expression with an upregulation of AMPK. Methyl donor downregulated the CCl₄-induced increase in inflammatory and fibrosis related gene expression and inhibited the apoptosis with a downregulation of EGFR expression. Here, we provide the first evidence that methyl donor combinations prevent liver fibrosis by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis through DNMT-1 and EGFR downregulation.