Histology and histopathology Vol.24, nº4 (2009)

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Browsing Histology and histopathology Vol.24, nº4 (2009) by Subject "Fibrosis"

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    Liver growth factor antifibrotic activity in vivo is associated with a decrease in activation of hepatic stellate cells
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2009) Díaz-Gil, Juan J.; García-Monzón, Carmelo; Rúa, Carmen; Martín Sanz, Paloma; Cereceda, Rosa M.; Miquilena-Colina, María E.; Machín, Celia; Fernández Martínez, Amalia; García Cañero, Rafael
    The antifibrotic activity of Liver Growth Factor (LGF), a liver mitogen, was previously demonstrated in several models of rat liver fibrosis and even in extrahepatic sites, such as carotid artery in hypertensive rats and rat CdCl2-induced lung fibrosis. In the present study, we have attempted to examine in depth its mechanism of antifibrotic action in bile duct-ligated (BDL) rats, with special emphasis on its activity in fibrogenic liver cells. BDL rats received either LGF 9 μg/week for 2 or 3 weeks (BDL+LGF, n=20/group) or saline (BDL+S, n=20/group), at times 0, week 2, or week 5 after operation. Groups were compared in terms of liver a- smooth muscle actin (SMA) content (western blotting and immunohistochemistry), hepatic apoptosis, liver desmin content (western blotting), and serum endothelin-1 (ELISA). LGF produced a marked decrease in liver a-SMA content compared with saline-injected rats, especially evident at longer times (5w and 8w; p<0.05), accompanied by a decrease in hepatic a-SMA+ cells. This decrease was not due to the killing of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC) or myofibroblasts by LGF, since there was a slight decrease in hepatic apoptosis that was more evident at 2w (p<0.05). Moreover, LGF did not seem to influence HSC proliferation, as shown by measuring liver desmin content. The antifibrotic activity exerted by LGF seems to be closely related to a modulation of the activation state of fibrogenic liver cells (activated HSC and myofibroblasts) in BDL rats.