Sorafenib attenuates monocrotaline-induced sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in rats through suppression of JNK and MMP-9

Background & Aims: Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is a drug-induced liver injury that occurs with oxaliplatin treatment and is associated with postoperative morbidity after hepatectomy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sorafenib in a monocrotaline (MCT)-induced model of SOS in rats. Methods: Rats were divided into groups treated with sorafenib (2 mg/kg) or vehicle, 36 h and 12 h before MCT (90 mg/kg) administration by gavage. Liver tissues and blood were sampled 48 h after MCT administration to evaluate SOS. Survival after hepatectomy was examined and immunohistochennistry and electron microscopy were performed to assess sinusoidal injury. Results: In the vehicle group, liver histology showed sinusoidal dilatation, coagulative necrosis of hepatocytes, endothelial damage of the central vein, and sinusoidal hemorrhage. In the sorafenib group, these changes were significantly suppressed, total SOS scores were significantly decreased, and the elevation of serum transaminase levels observed in the vehicle group was significantly reduced. Survival after hepatectomy was significantly higher in the sorafenib group compared to the vehicle group (45% vs. 20%, p = 0.0137). Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy revealed a protective effect of sorafenib on sinusoidal endothelial cells at 6 h after MCT treatment. Sorafenib also attenuated the activity of metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) and phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Conclusions: Sorafenib reduced the severity of MCT-induced SOS in rats through suppression of MMP-9 and JNK activity, resulting in improvement of survival after hepatectomy. (C) 2012 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.