title: Collapsed Reticular Network and its Possible Mechanism during the Initiation and/or Progression of Hepatic Fibrosis.
abstract: Among the researches on hepatic fibrosis, great attention was paid to both hepatocytes and extracellular matrix (ECM). However, little focus was drawn on reticular fibrous network, which is important for demarcation and support of hepatocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate the change pattern of reticular fibers in hepatic fibrosis/cirrhosis and its underlying mechanism. In this study, thioacetamide (TAA) and bile duct ligation (BDL) were utilized to induce rat hepatic fibrosis respectively, and Human liver cirrhotic microassay was analyzed with IHC to confirm the results in animal experiment and to detect the metalloproteinases (MMPs) expressions. As a result, the reticular fibers decreased markedly after 1 week in TAA and 1 day in BDL treated rats. Multiple representative regulators of MMPs and MMPs increased significantly in their expressions and activities. Further more, in human liver cirrhotic microassay, MMPs expressions also showed similar patterns as that of animal experiment. In Conclusions: Degradation or collapse of reticular fibers in hepatic sinusoid can be considered as a pathological feature during the initiation and/or progression of hepatic fibrosis. Moreover, such degradation is associated with and probably caused by the over/dysregulated expression of MMPs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China.|Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Shi-Lei
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Shi-Hang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China.|Department of Peptides Related to Human Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Jin-Hang
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China.|West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Lin-Hao
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Ping
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Ding Zhi
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases