Expression and regulation of the insulin-like growth factor axis components in rat liver myofibroblasts.
Apart from hepatic stellate cells (HSC), liver myofibroblasts (MF) represent a second mesenchymal cell population involved in hepatic fibrogenesis. The IGF system including the insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I, -II), their receptors (IGF-I receptor, IGF-IR; IGF-II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor, IGF-II/M6-PR), and six high affinity IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) participate in the regulation of growth and differentiation of cells of the fibroblast lineage, possibly contributing to the fibrogenic process. The aim of this work was to study the expression and regulation of the IGF axis components in rat liver MF.


METHODS
Cultures of MF from passages 1 to 4 (P1-4) were studied. IGFBP secretion was analyzed by [(125)I]-IGF-I ligand and immunoblotting. IGF-I, IGF-IR, IGF-II/M6-PR, and IGFBP messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was assessed by Northern blot hybridization. DNA synthesis was evaluated by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay.


RESULTS
MF from P1 to 4 constitutively expressed mRNA transcripts specific for IGF-I, IGF-IR, and IGF-II/M6-PR. In MF, biosynthesis of IGFBP-3 and -2 was observed that was stimulated by IGF-I, insulin, and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), whereas platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) revealed inhibitory effects. IGF-I and to a lesser extent insulin increased DNA synthesis of MF. Simultaneous addition of recombinant human IGFBP-2 or -3 with IGF-I diminished the mitogenic effect of IGF-I on MF whereas preincubation of MF with IGFBP-2 or -3 further potentiated the IGF-I stimulated DNA synthesis. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that the IGF axis may play a role in the regulation of MF proliferation in vitro which might be relevant in vivo for the process of fibrogenesis during acute and chronic liver injury.
Novosyadlyy
Ruslan
R
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany.
Tron
Kyrylo
K
Dudas
Jozsef
J
Ramadori
Giuliano
G
Scharf
Jens-Gerd
JG
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000378:metabolism*
D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013002:Somatomedins