title: TAFI deficiency promotes liver damage in murine models of liver failure through defective down-regulation of hepatic inflammation.
abstract: Emerging evidence indicates that various haemostatic components can regulate the progression of liver disease. Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) possesses anti-inflammatory properties besides its anti-fibrinolytic function. Here, we investigated the contribution of TAFI to the progression of disease in murine models of chronic and acute liver failure. Chronic carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) administration induced liver damage and fibrosis both in TAFI knockout (TAFI-/-) mice and wild-type controls. Smooth muscle actin-α (α-SMA) content of liver tissue was significantly increased after 1 and 3 weeks, and pro-collagen α1 expression was significantly increased after 3 and 6 weeks in TAFI-/- mice. TAFI-/- mice showed significantly elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) after 3 weeks of CCL4. Neutrophil influx was significantly increased in TAFI-/- mice after 6 weeks of CCL4. No difference in hepatic fibrin deposition between TAFI-/- and wild-types was observed. After acetaminophen intoxication, necrosis was significantly increased in TAFI-/- mice at 24 hours (h) after injection. AST and ALT levels were decreased at 2 and 6 h after acetaminophen injection in TAFI-/- mice, but were significantly higher in the TAFI-/- mice at 24 h. Similarly, hepatic fibrin deposition was decreased at 6 h in TAFI-/- mice, but was comparable to wild-types at 24 h after injection. In conclusion, TAFI deficiency results in accelerated fibrogenesis and increased liver damage in murine models of chronic and acute liver disease, which may be related to increased inflammation.
authors: Department of Surgery, BA44, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands. j.a.lisman@umcg.nl
authors: G C G
authors: GC
authors: Hugenholtz
authors: J C M
authors: JC
authors: Meijers
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Adelmeijer
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Porte
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Lisman
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000208:Acute Disease; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D025901:Carboxypeptidase B2 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D000090602:Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009336:Necrosis; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C558396:Acta2 protein, mouse; D000199:Actins; D024042:Collagen Type I; D000090602:Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000082:Acetaminophen; D005337:Fibrin; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D025901:Carboxypeptidase B2