title: High expression of MDR1, MRP1, and MRP3 in the hepatic progenitor cell compartment and hepatocytes in severe human liver disease.
abstract: An increase in bile ductular structures is observed in diverse human liver diseases. These structures harbour the progenitor cell compartment of the liver. Since ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters may have a cytoprotective role in liver disease, an immunohistochemical study was performed on human liver specimens from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, submassive cell necrosis, and normal liver. The expression of MDR1, MDR3, BSEP, MRP1, MRP2, and MRP3 was determined using specific antibodies. Dilution series were constructed to determine the critical staining level in order to estimate the factor of up-regulation. In normal liver, hepatocytes showed canalicular staining for MDR3, BSEP, and MRP2. MDR1 stained the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes as well as that of cholangiocytes. MRP3 showed low immunoreactivity of bile duct epithelial cells and centrilobular hepatocytes only. Normal liver showed no immunoreactivity for MRP1. In diseased liver, the expression of MDR3, BSEP, and MRP2 was relatively stable. In PBC, HCV, and submassive necrosis, the expression levels of MDR1, MRP1, and MRP3 were increased. The strongest immunoreactivity was seen after submassive necrosis, where remaining islands of hepatocytes showed strong canalicular staining for MDR1 and MRP3. Regenerating bile ductules at the interface of portal tracts and necrotic areas stained intensely for MDR1, MRP1, and MRP3. In conclusion, MDR1, MRP1, and MRP3 are up-regulated in hepatocytes in severe human liver disease. Strong MDR1, MRP1, and MRP3 reactivity is seen in regenerating human bile ductules.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Liver, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases, Groningen University Institute for Drug Exploration (GUIDE), University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jenny E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ros
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Libbrecht
authors.forename: Mariska
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geuken
authors.forename: Peter L M
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Tania A D
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Roskams
mesh_terms: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000378:metabolism; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009336:Necrosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C114462:multidrug resistance-associated protein 3; C421109:multidrug resistance-associated protein 1