Effects of vitamin A on collagen metabolism by cultured rat liver cells

Effect of all-trans retinoic acid on liver fibrosis induced by common bile duct ligation in rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and possible mechanism of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on liver fibrosis induced by common bile duct ligation (CBDL) in rats. Fifty-three female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham operation group (group J, 5 animals) and groups A, B, C and D (12 animals in each group). The rats in groups A, B, C and D were subjected to CBDL to induce liver fibrosis, while those in group J to sham operation. From the 3rd week the rats in groups B, C and D respectively received daily administration of ATRA via gastric tube at three different doses [0.1, 1.5 and 7.5 mg/kg body weight (BW)]. Animals were sacrificed at 6th week. Rats' liver tissues were observed for pathologic changes under a light microscope. The protein levels of type I collagen (COL I), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2), MMP13 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in liver tissues were determined by immunohistochemical techniques. The expression levels of TGF-beta1 and CTGF mRNA in liver tissues were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that loss of normal hepatic architecture and formation of obvious fibrosis were observed in group A, while ATRA treatment for 4 weeks notably alleviated the pathological changes of hepatocytes. The expression of COL I and TIMP-1 proteins in group A was increased, while decreased in ATRA-treated CBDL groups (P<0.05). ATRA (1.5 and 7.5 mg/kg BW) reduced the expression levels of COL I protein more greatly than that of 0.1 mg/kg BW (P<0.05). ATRA treatment increased the protein levels of MMP2 and MMP13. The expression levels of TGF-beta1 and CTGF mRNA in group A were increased. In comparison with group A, the mRNA levels of TGF-beta1 and CTGF in ATRA-treated CBDL groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05). It was concluded that ATRA could inhibit CBDL-induced liver fibrosis in rats by suppressing the expression of TGF-beta1 and CTGF so as to diminish the inhibition of TIMP-1 on MMP2 and MMP13 and increase the activity of MMP2 and MMP13.

Prevention of cultured rat stellate cell transformation and endothelin-B receptor upregulation by retinoic acid

1 Physiologically, perisinusoidal hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are quiescent and store retinoids. During liver injury and in cell culture, HSC transform into proliferating myofibroblast-like cells that express alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-sma) and produce excessive amounts of extracellular matrix. During transformation (also known as activation), HSC are depleted of the retinoid stores, and their expression of the endothelin-1 (ET-1) system is increased. ET-1 causes contraction of transformed HSC and is implicated in their proliferation and fibrogenic activity. In order to understand the association between retinoids, ET-1 and the activation of HSC, we investigated the effect of 13-cis-retinoic acid on the transformation of cultured HSC and the expression of ET-1 system. 2 HSC derived from normal rat liver were maintained for 10-12 days in a medium supplemented with 5% serum and containing 2.5 micro M retinoic acid without or with 50 nM ET-1 (ETA+ETB agonist) or sarafotoxin S6c (ETB agonist). In another set of experiments, cells treated for 10-12 days with vehicle (ethanol) or retinoic acid were challenged with ET-1 or sarafotoxin S6c, and various determinations were made at 24 h. 3 Retinoic acid inhibited transformation and proliferation of HSC as assessed by morphological characteristics, expression of alpha-sma, bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and cell count. Retinoic acid also prevented upregulation of ETB receptors without affecting ET-1 or ETA expression. Total protein synthesis ([(3)H]leucine incorporation), collagen alpha types I mRNA expression and collagen synthesis ([(3)H]proline incorporation) were lower in retinoic acid-treated cells. Although ET-1-treated cells were morphologically similar to the control cells, their expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin was significantly inhibited. The presence of retinoic acid in the medium during treatment with ET-1 caused further reduction in the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin. ET-1 and sarafotoxin S6c stimulated total protein synthesis in vehicle- and retinoic acid-treated cells, but collagen synthesis only in the latter. 4 These results showing prevention of HSC activation and negative regulation of ETB receptor expression in them by retinoic acid may have important pathophysiologic implications.