Basic Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 15, 2003; 9(6): 1287-1291
Published online Jun 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i6.1287
Expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor and its intervention by interleukin-10 in experimental hepatic fibrosis
Xiao-Zhong Wang, Zhi-Xin Chen, Li-Juan Zhang, Yun-Xin Chen, Dan Li, Feng-Lin Chen, Yue-Hong Huang
Xiao-Zhong Wang, Zhi-Xin Chen, Li-Juan Zhang, Yun-Xin Chen, Dan Li, Feng-Lin Chen, Yue-Hong Huang, Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Science and Technology fund of Fujian Province, No.2003D05
Correspondence to: Xiao-Zhong Wang, Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China. drwangxz@pub6.fz.fj.cn
Telephone: +86-591-3322384
Received: December 28, 2002
Revised: February 4, 2003
Accepted: February 11, 2003
Published online: June 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: To study the expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R and its intervention by interleukin-10 in the course of experimental hepatic fibrosis.

METHODS: Hepatic fibrosis was induced in rats by carbon tetrachloride intoxication and liver specimens were taken from the rats administered CCl4 with or without IL-10 treatment and the animals of the control group. Immunoreactivities for insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF-1 receptor(IGF-1R) were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, and their intensities were evaluated in different animal groups.

RESULTS: The positive levels for IGF-1 and IGF-1R were increased with the development of hepatic fibrosis, with the positive signals localized in cytoplasm and/or at the plasmic membrane of hepatocytes. The positive signals of IGF-1 and IGF-1R were observed more frequently (P < 0.01) in the CCl4-treated group (92.0% and 90.0%) compared to those in the control group. The positive signals decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in IL-10-treated group. The responses in IGF-1 and IGF-1R expression correlated with the time of IL-10 treatment.

CONCLUSION: The expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R immunoreactivities in liver tissue seems to be up-regulated during development of hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4, and exogenic IL-10 inhibits the responses.

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