@article{oai:hirosaki.repo.nii.ac.jp:00003864,
 author = {Sawada, Naoya and Mikami, Kenichiro and Igarashi, Go and Endo, Tetsu and Sato, Ken and Kakizaki, Ikuko and Fukuda, Shinsaku},
 issue = {2-4},
 journal = {弘前医学},
 month = {Mar},
 note = {Background & Aims: Liver fibrosis progresses to cirrhosis as the consequence of chronic liver injury. 4-methylumbelliferone （4-MU）, a derivative of coumarin, has been used as an approved drug to treat biliary spasm. Recent publications have reported that 4-MU inhibits production of hyaluronan （HA）, which is a key component of extracellular matrix deposition in fibrotic and cirrhotic liver. We investigated the effect of 4-MU on fibrotic liver in rats. 
Methods: Liver fibrosis was induced by bile duct ligation（ BDL）. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received a standard diet or the same diet containing 1% or 5% of 4-MU from 1 week before BDL. The rats were sacrificed at 3 weeks after BDL. 
Results: Administration of 4-MU increased serum 4-MU concentration levels, thereby decreasing serum HA levels in a dose-dependent manner. 4-MU treatment suppressed liver fibrosis in interlobular and pericentral areas with reduced alpha-smooth muscle actin expression, which suggested hepatic stellate cell activation.
Conclusion: Treatment with 4-MU suppressed the experimental hepatic fibrosis accompanied by inhibition of HA production. Although further experimental studies are needed, 4-MU could protect against fibrogenesis and may be repurposed as a safe therapeutic application for hepatic fibrosis., 弘前医学. 66, 2016, p.143-151},
 pages = {143--151},
 title = {Beneficial Effect of 4-Methylumbelliferone Against Bile Duct Ligation-Induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Rats},
 volume = {66},
 year = {2016}
}