Induction of hepatic tissue-type plasminogen activator and type 1 plasminogen activator-inhibitor gene expressions and appearance of their translation products in the bile following acute liver injury in rats.
OBJECTIVE
The plasminogen activator (PA)-plasmin system is primarily involved in fibrinolysis, but is also in the patho/physiological events in which breakdown of extracellular matrices is evoked topically. In this present study, we examined the expression of fibrinolytic factors, tissue-type PA (t-PA) and Type 1 PA inhibitor (PAI-1), in acute liver injury.


METHODS
Acute liver injury was produced in rats by the intraperitoneal administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)). Plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities were measured to verify the hepatocellular damage. t-PA and PAI-1 gene expressions were measured by Northern blotting, and the cell type(s) expressing these genes was identified by in situ hybridization. t-PA and PAI-1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
A single intraperitoneal administration of CCl(4) caused severe acute parenchymatous liver injury. Both t-PA and PAI-1 gene expressions were induced by the acute liver injury, and plasma t-PA and PAI-1 concentrations were also increased. In situ hybridization studies demonstrated that the hepatocytes were the cells expressing t-PA and PAI-1 genes during the acute liver injury. t-PA was also augmented in the bile, whereas PAI-1 was decreased there.


CONCLUSIONS
t-PA and PAI-1 gene expressions are induced in the hepatocytes of rats with acute liver injury. These fibrinolytic factors induced by liver injury may play important roles in liver regeneration.
Noguchi
T
T
Department of Nutrition and Physiology, Nihon University Graduate School of Applied Life Sciences, Nihon University College of Bioresource Sciences, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-8510, Japan.
Matsuyama
S
S
Akao
M
M
Hagiwara
H
H
Uno
S
S
Seki
T
T
Ariga
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001646:Bile / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics
D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator