Correlation between stellate cell activation and serum fibrosis markers in choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined diet-induced rat liver fibrosis.
The aim of this study was to investigate the association of stellate cell activation with serum fibrosis markers in a rat model of hepatic fibrosis prepared using a choline-deficient L-amino acid (CDAA) defined diet. CDAA diet administration resulted in increased liver hydroxyproline contents in a time-dependent manner with activated stellate cells, expressing alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) as well as increased serum concentrations of amino-terminal procollagen type III peptide (PIIIP) and the 7S fragment of type IV collagen. Hydroxyproline content of the liver showed a closer correlation with the serum 7S (r = 0.75, P < 0.01) concentration than with the serum PIIIP (r = 0.51, P < 0.01) concentration. The percent area of alpha-SMA-positive cells showed stronger correlation with the serum PIIIP concentration (r = 0.85, P < 0.01) than with the 7S concentration (r = 0.50, P < 0.01). These results indicate that the serum PIIIP concentration reflects the activity of fibrogenesis, while the serum 7S concentration reflects the accumulation of collagen fibers in the liver.
Hironaka
K
K
First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
Sakaida
I
I
Uchida
K
K
Okita
K
K
D000818:Animals; D002796:Choline Deficiency / Q000473:pathology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; D003094:Collagen