Fibrogenic cell fate during fibrotic tissue remodelling observed in rat and human cultured liver slices.
OBJECTIVE
Fibrotic liver remodelling was studied in culture of precision-cut liver slices (PCLS) derived from fibrotic liver.


METHODS
Fibrosis was induced in rats by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) treatment or bile duct ligation. Human fibrotic livers were also used. PCLS were cultured for 6, 24, 48, or 72 h, and the expression of alpha-smooth muscle (SM) actin, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor-beta, and active caspase 3 was studied by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Before culture, in CCl4-treated or bile duct ligated animals, fibrosis was observed around centrolobular veins, or in portal zones, respectively. In PCLS derived from CCl4-treated animals, alpha-SM actin expression disappeared after 24h in culture while PDGF receptor-beta expression decreased progressively after 48 h. These changes were observed in absence of massive apoptosis. In PCLS derived from bile duct ligated animals, both alpha-SM actin and PDGF receptor-beta expression decreased after 48 h in culture with a massive apoptosis. In PCLS derived from human fibrotic livers, alpha-SM actin expression was dramatically reduced after 48 h in culture.


CONCLUSIONS
After CCl4 treatment, a proportion of myofibroblasts derived from hepatic stellate cells seems to dedifferentiate while in bile duct ligation model, myofibroblasts derived from portal fibroblasts disappear by apoptosis, underlining the relevance of this model to evaluate the mechanisms involved in fibrotic liver remodelling.
Guyot
Christelle
C
INSERM, E0362, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux F-33076, France.
Combe
Chantal
C
Balabaud
Charles
C
Bioulac-Sage
Paulette
P
Desmoulière
Alexis
A
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods
D000199:Actins; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride