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Codistribution of Collagens V and VI with Collagens I and III in Hepatic Fibrosis of Elderly Cadavers
Author(s) -
Mak Ki
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.544.4
Subject(s) - sirius red , perisinusoidal space , extracellular matrix , fibrosis , pathology , staining , reticular fiber , chemistry , hepatic stellate cell , collagen, type i, alpha 1 , collagen fibril , type i collagen , fibril , anatomy , cirrhosis , matrix (chemical analysis) , hepatic fibrosis , biology , hepatocyte , biochemistry , medicine , in vitro , chromatography
Collagen V is a fibrillar collagen of the extracellular matrix (ECM). It forms heterotypic fibrils with collagen I and regulates the growth of collagen I fibrils. Collagen VI is a microfilamentous collagen that forms a network in the ECM, linking matrix components and cells. In the liver, collagens V and VI are minor ECM proteins, but their levels are significantly elevated in cirrhosis. Fibrosis is often seen in aged livers and is prevalent in elderly cadavers. Using immunoperoxidase staining in paraffin sections, this study assessed collagens V and VI expression and their association with fibrillar collagens I and III in progressive stages of liver fibrosis of elderly embalmed cadavers. In liver with minimal fibrosis, staining for collagens V and VI was uniform in the perisinusoidal space of the lobules, stroma and vessel walls of portal tracts, and rims of central veins. Perisinusoidal hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) expressed collagens V and VI, revealing the cellular source of these collagens. In foci of severe perisinusoidal fibrosis, collagens V and VI staining was enhanced, codistributing with the increased presence of collagens I and III. Collagens V, VI, I, and III were abundant in the ECM of fibrotic portal tracts, fibrous septa of sepal fibrosis and cirrhosis. In sections post‐stained with Sirius red for collagen fibers—mainly collagens I and III—the immunoreactivity of collagens V and VI was seen localized to the fiber bundles. Conclusion The association of collagen V with collagen I in fibrotic foci is in accord with its regulatory role for fibrillogenesis of collagen I, while collagen VI—a connecting protein—links fibrillar collagens to the surrounding ECM. Thus, collagens V and VI could serve as biomarkers of liver fibrogenesis.