title: Expression of matrilin-2 in oval cells during rat liver regeneration.
abstract: The matrilins represent a new family of oligomeric proteins that are assumed to act as adapter molecules connecting other proteins and proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix. Matrilin-2, the largest member of the family, displays a broad tissue distribution. It incorporates into loose and dense connective tissue and becomes associated with some basement membranes. The aim of our study was to analyse the expression of matrilin-2 in two liver regeneration models and to identify its cellular origin. Liver regeneration was induced in rats by partial hepatectomy (PH) and by the 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF)/partial hepatectomy (PH) experimental models. Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue sections were used for immunohistochemistry applying a rabbit matrilin-2 polyclonal antibody. Matrilin-2 was detected in normal rat liver and partially hepatectomized liver in the portal area, but could not be demonstrated in the acini. Matrilin-2 mRNA expression was analysed by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. In the AAF/PH model the oval cells but not the hepatocytes produced matrilin-2 mRNA. Increase in protein level in the AAF/PH regenerating liver model was demonstrated by Western blotting. The protein was present in the basement membrane zone around the tubules formed by oval cells. Our data show that hepatic oval cells produce matrilin-2, a novel ECM protein, suggesting that matrilin-2 is an important component of ECM during stem cell-driven liver regeneration.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Institute of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Erzsébet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: Csaba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lódi
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Korpos
authors.forename: Enkhjargal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Batmunkh
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rottenberger
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deák
authors.forename: Ibolya
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: Anna-Mária
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tokés
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lotz
authors.forename: Viktória
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: László
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: Zsuzsa
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Schaff
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nagy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology*; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D064235:Matrilin Proteins; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; C577543:Matn2 protein, rat; D064235:Matrilin Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012313:RNA