[Expression and significance of platelet derived growth factor and its receptor in liver tissues of patients with liver fibrosis].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression and significance of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and its receptor (PDGFR) in liver tissues of patients with chronic hepatitis fibrosis and liver cirrhosis.


METHODS
The expression, distribution, quantitation, and correlation of PDGF-A, PDGF-B, PDGFR-alpha, PDGFR-beta, and alpha-SMA in the liver tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemical techniques in 21 patients with chronic hepatitis and 42 patients with liver cirrhosis.


RESULTS
In the liver tissues of chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis, PDGF and its receptor and alpha-SMA mainly distributed in the fibrotic septa and the infiltration area of inflammation, particularly in branch spindle-shaped cells (activated HSC). The expression of PDGF-B and PDGFR-beta was stronger than that of PDGF-A and PDGFR-alpha with a significant difference between them (P<0.05 approximately 0.01). The expression and distribution of alpha-SMA was basically identical with the expression and distribution of PDGF-A, PDGF-B and PDGFR-alpha, PDGFR-beta and quantitative analysis showed a positive correlation (r=0.606, P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
PDGF and PDGFR play a key role in liver fibrogenesis and development. The biologic effects of PDGF are elicited through activising HSC. Inhibiting PDGF and its receptor is a new approach to the treatment of liver fibrosis.
Yuan
Nong
N
Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an 710068, China.
Wang
Ping
P
Wang
Xianzhi
X
Wang
Zhuo
Z
D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000737:chemistry; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology
D000199:Actins; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta