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Rat hepatic stellate cells contribute to the acute‐phase response with increased expression of α1(I) and α1(IV) collagens, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐1, and matrix‐metalloproteinase‐2 messenger RNAs
Author(s) -
Nieto Natalia,
DominguezRosales Jose A.,
Fontana Luis,
Salazar Adriana,
ArmendarizBorunda Juan,
Greenwel Patricia,
Rojkind Marcos
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1053/jhep.2001.22520
Subject(s) - matrix metalloproteinase , hepatic stellate cell , acute phase protein , messenger rna , tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase , tumor necrosis factor alpha , inflammation , endocrinology , medicine , gene expression , metalloproteinase , biology , matrix (chemical analysis) , chemistry , immunology , biochemistry , gene , chromatography
Abstract The acute‐phase response (APR) represents a systemic reaction of the organism to multiple nonspecific inflammatory stimuli. In general, it is protective for the host, and hepatocytes are the main cells responding with alterations in the expression of a set of liver‐specific proteins named the acute‐phase proteins. We have previously shown that although a turpentine‐induced APR is not fibrogenic per se , it enhances collagen deposition in rats treated with CCl 4 and up‐regulates expression of hepatic α1(I) collagen and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP‐1) messenger RNAs (mRNAs). In this report we extended our studies and showed that turpentine induced, in a time‐dependent manner, expression of α1(I) and α1(IV) collagens, TIMP‐1, and matrix‐metalloproteinase 2 (MMP‐2) mRNAs. We further showed that expression of these mRNAs occurs in hepatic stellate cells, but not in hepatocytes obtained 6 hours after the induction of an APR episode. These changes were accompanied by increased blood levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) and interleukin 6 (IL‐6) without noticeable immediate changes in the expression of their respective mRNAs in the liver. In contrast to CCl 4 ‐induced liver damage, turpentine alone, whether administered as a single dose or as a weekly dose for 3 weeks did not up‐regulate expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) mRNA and did not result in excess collagen deposition. Overall, these findings suggest that collagen deposition in the livers of rats with repeated APR episodes may be enhanced only when given together with a fibrogenic stimulus that activates hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and/or up‐regulates TGF‐β1 mRNA expression.