Abstract: Objective To observe the effects of transforming growth factor β type I receptor （TβRI） antisense RNA and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1（TIMP-1） antisense RNA on experimental liver fibrosis in rats. Methods TβRI and TIMP-1 antisense RNA eukaryotic expression plasmids were constructed and transfected into experimental rats with hepatic fibrosis. The impacts of TβRI and TIMP-1 antisense RNA on TIMP-1,TβRI and MMP-13 expression were detected by Western blot. Results The relative expressions of TIMP-1 protein in normal control group, antisense TβRI group, antisense TIMP-1 group, combinational group, plasmid group and model group were（23.6±2.8）,（57.96±3.8）,（62.3±2.8）,（34.2±2.8）,（279.2±29.8）and（287.3±23.7）,respectively;the relative expressions of TβRI in each groups were（56.2±2.7）,（70.5.±1.8）,（77.0±1.7）,（60.6±2.2）,（232.0±19.4） and（241.0±18.3）,respectively;and the relative expressions of MMP-13 were （17.84±2.3）,（36.2±3.7）,（41.3±2.4）,（28.6±2.0）,（127.3±1.2）and（118.5±2.5）,respectively. The relative expressions of TβRI,TIMP-1 and MMP-13 in antisense TβRI group, antisense TIMP-1 group and combinational group were significantly decreased compared with normal control group and plasmid group（P<0.05）,while there was no significantly differences between plasmid and model group. Conclusions Antisense TβRI RNA and antisense TIMP-1 RNA can both inhibit the expressions of TβRI,TIMP-1 and MMP-13 protein effectively,and their combination can improve the inhibiting effects.

Key words: Liver fibrosis, Antisense RNA, Plasmids, Transforming growth factor β, receptor, Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases