Ferrigno A, Palladini G, Di Pasqua LG, Berardo C, Richelmi P, Cadamuro M, Fabris L, Perlini S, Adorini L, Vairetti M. Obeticholic acid reduces biliary and hepatic matrix metalloproteinases activity in rat hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury.
PLoS One 2020;
15:e0238543. [PMID:
32911524 PMCID:
PMC7482919 DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0238543]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
We have previously shown that obeticholic acid (OCA) upregulates the biliary excretion of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an inhibitor of iNOS regulating the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Here, the effects of OCA on MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity in liver, bile and serum were evaluated after hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.
Material and methods
Male Wistar rats (n = 20) were orally administered 10 mg/kg/day of OCA (5 days) and subjected to a 60-min ischemia and 60-min reperfusion. Bile, serum and tissue were collected for MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity quantification. The MMP regulator tissue reversion-inducing cysteine rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), iNOS and biliary levels of LDH, γGT, glucose and ADMA were quantified.
Results
In the I/R group, OCA administration reduced MMP-2 and MMP-9 in liver, bile and serum. A downregulation of tissue RECK and TIMPs, observed under I/R, were recovered by OCA. Immunohistochemical staining of hepatic tissue demonstrated that RECK expression is mainly localized in both cholangiocytes and hepatocytes. Hepatic iNOS positively correlated with tissue MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity. Biliary levels of LDH, γGT and glucose were lower in I/R rats treated with OCA; in bile, MMP levels positively correlated with LDH and γGT.
Conclusion
Thus, OCA administration confers protection to cholangiocytes via downregulation of biliary MMPs in livers submitted to I/R. This event is associated with hepatic RECK- and TIMP-mediated MMP decrease.
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