title: [Differential expression of protease-activated receptor 2 in a bile duct ligation-induced rat model of liver fibrosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the dynamic change in expression of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) during onset and progression of liver fibrosis by using a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cholestatic liver fibrosis model was established in Sprague-Dawley rats (aged 8-9 weeks, body weight 350 - 400 g) by bile duct ligation surgery. Rats receiving a sham operation and unoperated rats served as the negative and normal control groups, respectively. At baseline (pre-surgery) and post-surgery weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8, five rats from each group were sacrificed for whole liver resection. The protein and mRNA expressions of PAR2 and collagen I/III were detected by western blotting and RT-PCR, respectively. Between-group differences were assessed by analysis of variance testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At post-surgery week 2, the liver fibrosis group showed higher expression of PAR2 mRNA and protein than either control group. The expression levels of PAR2 continued to rise over time in the liver fibrosis group (peaking at week 8), and were significantly higher than those detected in the control groups (weeks 4-6: P less than 0.05; week 8, P less than 0.05). A similar trend was observed for the expression of collagen I/III.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dynamic expression of PAR2 observed in a cholestatic liver fibrosis rat model may indicate a role for this factor in the formation of liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Ying-chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Yun-dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lan-bo
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hou-mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2