Open AccessCollapsed Reticular Network and its Possible Mechanism during the Initiation and/or Progression of Hepatic Fibrosis
Author(s) -
Shilei Wen,
Feng Shi,
Shihang Tang,
Jinhang Gao,
Lin-hao Zhang,
Huan Tong,
Zhihui Yan,
Ding Zhi Fang
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/srep35426
Subject(s) - reticular connective tissue , matrix metalloproteinase , cirrhosis , fibrosis , reticular fiber , pathology , hepatic stellate cell , extracellular matrix , pathological , hepatic fibrosis , medicine , chemistry , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Among the researches on hepatic fibrosis, great attention was paid to both hepatocytes and extracellular matrix (ECM). However, little focus was drawn on reticular fibrous network, which is important for demarcation and support of hepatocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate the change pattern of reticular fibers in hepatic fibrosis/cirrhosis and its underlying mechanism. In this study, thioacetamide (TAA) and bile duct ligation (BDL) were utilized to induce rat hepatic fibrosis respectively, and Human liver cirrhotic microassay was analyzed with IHC to confirm the results in animal experiment and to detect the metalloproteinases (MMPs) expressions. As a result, the reticular fibers decreased markedly after 1 week in TAA and 1 day in BDL treated rats. Multiple representative regulators of MMPs and MMPs increased significantly in their expressions and activities. Further more, in human liver cirrhotic microassay, MMPs expressions also showed similar patterns as that of animal experiment. In Conclusions: Degradation or collapse of reticular fibers in hepatic sinusoid can be considered as a pathological feature during the initiation and/or progression of hepatic fibrosis. Moreover, such degradation is associated with and probably caused by the over/dysregulated expression of MMPs.