Expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor and its intervention by interleukin-10 in experimental hepatic fibrosis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R and its intervention by interleukin-10 in the course of experimental hepatic fibrosis.


METHODS
Hepatic fibrosis was induced in rats by carbon tetrachloride intoxication and liver specimens were taken from the rats administered CCl4 with or without IL-10 treatment and the animals of the control group. Immunoreactivities for insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF-1 receptor(IGF-1R) were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, and their intensities were evaluated in different animal groups.


RESULTS
The positive levels for IGF-1 and IGF-1R were increased with the development of hepatic fibrosis, with the positive signals localized in cytoplasm and/or at the plasmic membrane of hepatocytes. The positive signals of IGF-1 and IGF-1R were observed more frequently (P<0.01) in the CCl4-treated group (92.0 % and 90.0 %) compared to those in the control group. The positive signals decreased significantly (P<0.05) in IL-10-treated group. The responses in IGF-1 and IGF-1R expression correlated with the time of IL-10 treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R immunoreactivities in liver tissue seems to be up-regulated during development of hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl(4), and exogenic IL-10 inhibits the responses.
Wang
Xiao-Zhong
XZ
Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China. drwangxz@pub6.fz.fj.cn
Chen
Zhi-Xin
ZX
Zhang
Li-Juan
LJ
Chen
Yun-Xin
YX
Li
Dan
D
Chen
Feng-Lin
FL
Huang
Yue-Hong
YH
D000818:Animals; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*
D016753:Interleukin-10; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1