EP0827742A1 — Use of histone deacetylase inhibitors for treating fribosis or cirrhosis

USPTO Abstract

The invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of fibrosis, in particular liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. According to the invention it was surprisingly found that submicromolar concentrations of a histone deacetylase inhibitor and in particular of trichostatin A strongly inhibit three main features of myofibroblastic differentiation of cultured hepatic stellate cells: (1) synthesis of collagens type I and III, the predominant collagens in fibrosis of liver and other organs; (2) cellular proliferation; and (3) expression of smooth muscle α-actin, a marker for differentiated myofibroblasts. These results indicate that trichostatin A is a potent antifibrogenic agent, totally different from any other therapeutic compounds previously described.