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Expression pattern of matrix metalloproteinases-13 in a rat model of alcoholic liver fibrosis |
Sheng Yan, Ge-Min Chen, Chao-Hui Yu, Guo-Fang Zhu, You-Ming Li and Shu-Sen Zheng |
Hangzhou, China
Author Affiliations: Departments of Hepatobiliary Surgery (Yan S, Chen GM and Zheng SS) and Gastroenterology (Yu CH, Zhu GF and Li YM), First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
Corresponding Author: Sheng Yan, MD, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China (Tel: 86-571-87236567; Fax: 86-571-87236567; Email: yansheng@vip.sina.com) |
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Abstract BACKGROUND: Interstitial collagenase has been considered as an essential enzyme for collagenolysis in liver fibrosis, because type Ⅰand Ⅲ collagens increase predominantly in liver fibrosis. The present study aimed to demonstrate the gene expression of matrix metalloproteinases-13 (MMP-13) in the progressive phases of ethanol induced experimental liver fibrosis in rats.
METHODS: Thirty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group (24 rats) was given ethanol (44%, 7 g/kg) every day and the control group (10) was given normal saline. Liver samples were harvested from experimental rats at 4, 12 and 24 weeks respectively. The kinetics of MMP-13 mRNA expression was assayed by semi-quantity reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
RESULTS: In normal rat liver, a faint band for MMP-13 mRNA was observed by RT-PCR (0.24±0.41). The gene expression of MMP-13 was increased in the liver of the rats treated with ethanol for 4 weeks (0.62±0.54), but it was not considered statistically significant (P>0.05). And the livers from 12-week-treated rats showed a marked mRNA expression (1.65±0.47, P<0.01). Once fibrosis became prominent (24 weeks), a faint band of MMP-13 mRNA was observed (0.39±0.25).
CONCLUSION: MMP-13 participates in the degradation of newly-formed matrix in the early phase of rat liver fibrosis induced by ethanol, and it was induced in a distinct time frame.
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