title: Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide ameliorates carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis via inhibition of collagen production and acceleration of collagenase activity.
abstract: Liver cirrhosis is caused by a relative imbalance between synthesis and degradation of collagens. Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide is a major adhesive domain of several extracellular matrix (ECM) components, such as that involved in the binding of fibronectin to the alpha5beta1 integrin receptor. We previously reported that RGD peptide increased the expression of matrix metalloproteinase in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) which play a major role in hepatic fibrosis. We evaluated whether RGD-peptides inhibit the progression of liver fibrosis in an animal model of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity. RGD peptide (GRGDS) (1 mg/kg body weight) was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) 3 times a week for one month. The group treated with control peptide (GRGES) showed pathologically typical hepatic fibrosis, while the RGD-treated group showed minimal fibrotic changes. The liver contents of collagen and hydroxyproline in the RGD-treated group was significantly lower than that of the control group. Collagenase activity measured in liver homogenates was significantly higher in the treated group than in the control group. In an in vitro study using TWNT-4 cells derived from human HSCs, RGD peptide (100 mug/ml) reduced the expression of type I collagen and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1, and increased that of matrix metalloproteinase-1. These results indicated that RGD peptides inhibited liver fibrosis associated with both decreased collagen production and increased collagenase acitivity, and suggested that RGD peptide might be useful for the therapy of hepatic fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotoh
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamuta
authors.forename: Motoyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kohjima
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Shusuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morizono
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Munechika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enjoji
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nawata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D017364:Collagenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000235:genetics; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D009842:Oligopeptides; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; C047981:arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid; D003094:Collagen; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D017364:Collagenases; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1; D006909:Hydroxyproline