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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 7, 2014; 20(21): 6523-6533
Published online Jun 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i21.6523
Published online Jun 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i21.6523
IGFBPrP1 induces liver fibrosis by inducing hepatic stellate cell activation and hepatocyte apoptosis via Smad2/3 signaling
Yun Zhang, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China
Qian-Qian Zhang, Xiao-Hong Guo, Hai-Yan Zhang, Li-Xin Liu, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China
Qian-Qian Zhang, Xiao-Hong Guo, Hai-Yan Zhang, Li-Xin Liu, Experimental Centre of Science and Research, The First Clinical Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China
Qian-Qian Zhang, Xiao-Hong Guo, Hai-Yan Zhang, Li-Xin Liu, Key Laboratory of Cell Physiology, Provincial Department of the Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China
Author contributions: Liu LX designed the study; Zhang Y analyzed the data and wrote the paper; Zhang QQ, Guo XH and Zhang HY performed the experiments.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30871146 and No. 81141049; and Shanxi Provincial Key Scientific Research Projects for the Returned Scholars, 2012-4
Correspondence to: Li-Xin Liu, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Xinjiannan Rd 56, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China. lixinliu6@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-351-4639075 Fax: +86-351-8263169
Received: November 11, 2013
Revised: January 14, 2014
Accepted: February 20, 2014
Published online: June 7, 2014
Revised: January 14, 2014
Accepted: February 20, 2014
Published online: June 7, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: This study investigated the role and mechanism of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-related protein 1 (IGFBPrP1) in liver fibrosis using an adenovirus vector carrying IGFBPrP1 or a small interfering RNA targeting Smad3. We found that overexpression of IGFBPrP1 induced liver fibrosis by mediating hepatocyte apoptosis and hepatic stellate cells activation. We also identified the important role of the IGFBPrP1-Smad pathway in the regulation of IGFBPrP1 action in the development of liver fibrosis, and this pathway is a potential therapeutic target for liver fibrosis.