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Hepatocyte growth factor and c‐Met expression in rat and human liver fibrosis
Author(s) -
Cramer Thorsten,
Schuppan Detlef,
Bauer Michael,
Pfander David,
Neuhaus Peter,
Herbst Hermann
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2004.0926.x
Subject(s) - hepatocyte growth factor , paracrine signalling , hepatic stellate cell , cirrhosis , hepatocyte , immunostaining , biology , fibrosis , medicine , endocrinology , in vivo , liver disease , chronic liver disease , pathology , cancer research , in vitro , immunohistochemistry , receptor , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
Background: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent mitogen for hepatocytes in vitro . Aims: Substitution of HGF was suggested for human liver disease on the basis of animal experiments. The cellular sources of HGF and its receptor, c‐Met, in liver disease in vivo are not well defined. Methods: We characterised HGF and c‐Met expression in normal and cirrhotic human livers and rat livers at various time points after CCl 4 administration by in situ hybridisation and immunohistology. HGF transcripts were restricted to resting and activated stellate cells in rat and human liver. Results: In rat liver, HGF showed peak levels 6–12 h following acute intoxication, and remained increased after repeated CCl 4 injury. HGF transcript levels were very low in normal human liver, but excessively raised in fibrosis/cirrhosis. In contrast, HGF immunoreactivity was found not only in perisinusoidal/periductular cells but also in cholangiocytes of proliferating ductules. c‐Met RNA and protein was expressed in hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, and arteriolar endothelial cells. Conclusions: The HGF‐specific immunostaining of proliferating cholangioles in the absence of HGF RNA suggests c‐Met‐mediated uptake of HGF and paracrine stimulation of cholangiocellular proliferation. Mitogenic effects of HGF on hepatocytes may therefore be accompanied by undesired cholangiogenesis and angiogenesis limiting its therapeutic value in chronic liver disease.