title: Insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 stimulate proliferation and type I collagen accumulation by human hepatic stellate cells: differential effects on signal transduction pathways.
abstract: Insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) are mitogenic for fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells. IGF-1 increases in inflamed and fibrotic tissues and induces proliferation of rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC). This study evaluates the potential roles of these hormones in the development of liver fibrosis. Insulin and IGF-1 receptor expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in both cultured human HSC and human liver tissue. Phosphorylation of both 70-kd S6 kinase and extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK), cell proliferation, type I collagen gene expression, and accumulation in HSC culture media were evaluated by Western blot, immunohistochemistry for bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), Northern blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Insulin and IGF-1 receptors were detected in HSC in vitro and in liver sections from patients with chronic active hepatitis. Insulin and IGF-1 induced 70-kd S6 kinase phosphorylation in HSC, whereas IGF-1 only induced ERK phosphorylation. Insulin and IGF-1 stimulated HSC proliferation in a dose-dependent fashion, with IGF-1 being four to five times more potent than insulin. Cell exposure to specific inhibitors showed that both phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) and ERK are involved in IGF-1-induced mitogenesis, whereas insulin stimulated mitogenesis through a PI3-K-dependent ERK-independent pathway. IGF-1 increased type I collagen gene expression and accumulation in HSC culture media through a PI3-K- and ERK-dependent mechanism. In conclusion, insulin and IGF-1, which stimulate HSC mitogenesis and collagen synthesis, may act in concert to promote liver fibrosis in vivo by a differential activation of PI3-K- and ERK1-dependent pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Svegliati-Baroni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ridolfi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Sario
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marucci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gaggiotti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Orlandoni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Macarri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perego
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benedetti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Folli
mesh_terms: D000730:Androstadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000502:physiology; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000502:physiology; D019893:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000077191:Wortmannin
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005419:Flavonoids; D007328:Insulin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D003094:Collagen; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; D019893:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one; D000077191:Wortmannin