Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in hepatic stellate cells during rat hepatic fibrosis and its intervention by IL-10.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of matrix metallopr-oteinase-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in hepatic fibrosis and the antifibrogenic role of exogenous interleukin-10 (IL-10).


METHODS
Hepatic fibrosis was induced by CCl(4) administration and 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group (group N, 8 rats), CCl(4)-induced group (group C, 28 rats) and IL-10-treated group (group I, 24 rats). At the beginning of the 7(th) and 11(th) wk, rats in each group were routinely perfused with pronase E and type IV collagenase through portal vein catheter and the suspension was centrifuged by 11% Nycodenz density gradient to isolate hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). RT-PCR was used to analyze mRNA of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 from freshly isolated cells. Densitometric data were standardized with beta-actin signals. Immunocytochemistry was performed to detect MMP-2 and TIMP-1 expression in HSC cultured for 72 h.


RESULTS
Compared to group N in the 7(th) wk, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNA increased in group C (P = 0.001/0.001) and group I (P = 0.001/0.009). The level of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNA in group I was significantly lower than that in group C (P = 0.001/0.001). In the 11(th) wk, MMP-2 mRNA in group I was still lower than that in group C (P = 0.005), but both dropped compared with that in the 7(th) week (P = 0.001/0.004). TIMP-1 mRNA in group I was still lower than that in group C (P = 0.001), and increased in group C (P = 0.001) while decreased in group I (P = 0.042) compared with that in the 7(th) wk. Same results were found by immunocytochemistry.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 is increased in hepatic fibrosis. IL-10 exhibits an antifibrogenic effect by suppressing MMP-2 and TIMP-1 expression.
Zheng
Wei-Da
WD
Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, China.
Zhang
Li-Juan
LJ
Shi
Mei-Na
MN
Chen
Zhi-Xin
ZX
Chen
Yun-Xin
YX
Huang
Yue-Hong
YH
Wang
Xiao-Zhong
XZ
D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D016753:Interleukin-10; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2