Connective tissue growth factor expression in experimental hepatic fibrosis / 中国实用内科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the changes of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF)gene expression level and the association with pathological staging of liver fibrosis and changes of type Ⅰ,Ⅲ collagen gene expression levels in he- patic fibrogenesis.Methods Hepatic fibrosis rat models were created by subcutaneous injections of CCl_4,and the de- gree of hepatic fibrosis in model rats was determined by HE staining and Sirius red staining.The expressions of CTGF, type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen gene of the rat liver tissue specimens were analysed with the Western blot and/or Reverse tran- scription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Grade I fibrosis was observed in rat liver tissue of CCl_4 in- ductiun for 2 weeks,and grade Ⅲ fibrosis in that of CCl_4 induction for 6 weeks.The CTGF mRNA and protein and type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen mRNAs in hepatic tissue of grade Ⅰ fibrosis and grad Ⅲ fibrosis were increased by 0.64?0.078、 2.66?0.269、1.83?0.096、2.85?0.096 and 2.81?0.055、6.41?0.224、3.25?0.13、2.69?0.082 fold com- pared with normal control,respectively.Conclusion The changes of CTGF gene expression level significantly correla- ted with the degree of liver fibrosis and type Ⅰ collagen gene expression,but not with type Ⅲ collagen expression in liver fibrogenesis.These findings suggested that the upregulation of CTGF gene expression might play an important role in the process of liver fibrogenesis,and postulating the interference of CTGF expression might be a new strategy.