HEPATIC FIBROSIS INHIBITOR

摘要

The present invention relates to a hepatic fibrosis inhibitor which contains as an active ingredient a substance that inhibits production or accumulation of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan such as chondroitinase ABC or ADAMTS-4 and is suitable for treating or preventing hepatic fibrosis such as hepatic cirrhosis; and a screening method for the inhibitor. The present inventor found for the first time that by inhibiting production or accumulation of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, hepatic fibrosis can be efficiently inhibited. That is, by administering chondroitinase ABC which is a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-degrading enzyme or the like, fibrosis in the hepatic tissue can be inhibited. Further, it is possible to find the hepatic fibrosis inhibitor by screening a compound that inhibits production or accumulation of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan.