ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the fibrosis mechanism of patients with fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis(FCH) in the way of degradation of collagen.Methods The expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 1(MMP1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1(TIMP1),and contents of type I,III collagen proteins were detected by immunohistochemical staining in the liver tissues of 9 cases with FCH associated with HBV developed following renal transplantation and 5 cases without liver disease as controls.Results The expressions of MMP1 and TIMP1,and type I,III collagen proteins in the patients with FCH were significantly higher than those in the control group.There was a positive correlation between the expressions of type I,III collagen proteins and TIMP1/ MMP1 ratio.Conclusion Hepatic fibrosis in the patients with FCH associated with HBV developed following renal transplantation may be relative to the increase of TIMP1 expression which inhibit the degradation of collagen.