Expression of matrix metalloproteinases in spontaneous regression of liver fibrosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Spontaneous regression of liver fibrosis would depend on the degradation of the excessive matrix in the liver. In this study, we tried to determine the kinetics of the expression of genes for matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -13.

METHODOLOGY

Liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride was resolved after withdrawal of this toxin. Histological staining for fibrous septa and determination of liver collagen content were used to evaluate the extent of liver fibrosis. Expression in liver of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -13 was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The fibrous septa became thinner and interrupted and liver fibrosis resolved rapidly within 10 days. Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -13 was elevated to 2.5- and 8.7-fold, respectively, at peak fibrosis. The former was maintained at 88%-76% and the later dropped rapidly to 30%-20% in the recovery periods.

CONCLUSIONS

Resolution of liver fibrosis began within 10 days but only to 70%. Gene expression kinetics suggested metalloproteinase-13 might play a more important role in the resolution because it surged more markedly at peak fibrosis and returned to nearly basal levels in the recovery periods in parallel with liver collagen content.

Identification of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K) as a repressor of C/EBPbeta-mediated gene activation

Transcription factor C/EBPbeta has been known to regulate a wide array of genes including those involved in the acute-phase response. One of the molecular mechanisms underlying transcription activation by C/EBPbeta is through protein-protein interaction with other transcription factors. Here we report the identification and characterization of physical and functional interactions between C/EBPbeta and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) K. This interaction results in the repression of C/EBPbeta-dependent trans-activation of the agp gene. Footprinting assays indicate that hnRNP K cannot bind to the promoter region of agp gene or interfere with the binding of C/EBPbeta to its cognate DNA site. Furthermore, agp gene activation by the synergistic interaction of Nopp140 and C/EBPbeta is abolished by hnRNP K. The kinetics of appearance of C/EBPbeta-hnRNP K complex in the nuclear extract after initiation of acute-phase reaction indicates that hnRNP K functions as a negative regulator of C/EBPbeta-mediated activation of agp gene.

Transcriptional induction of the agp/ebp (c/ebp beta) gene by hepatocyte growth factor

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a pleiotropic factor with mitogenic, morphogenic, motogenic, cytotoxic, or growth inhibitory activity. Although the signaling of HGF is mediated through the cell membrane receptor c-Met, the molecular mechanism of downstream signal transduction remains obscure. In this report, we present evidence that shows HGF can stimulate the expression of AGP/EBP (C/EBP beta) and NF-kappaB, which are both key transcription factors responsible for the regulation of many genes under stress conditions or during the acute-phase response. Biochemical and functional analysis indicates that the HGF-responsive element is located in the region -376 to -352 (URE1) of the 5'-upstream regulatory sequence of agp/ebp. Activation of NF-kappaB by HGF was observed to precede the induction of agp/ebp. Further studies indicate that NF-kappaB can cooperate with AGP/EBP or other members of the C/EBP family to activate the agp/ebp gene in both URE1 and URE2-dependent manner. These results suggest that the induction of the agp/ebp gene by HGF is mediated at least in part by its activation of NF-kappaB. The activated NF-kappaB then interacts with AGP/EBP, resulting in the induction of agp/ebp.

Identification and characterization of a nucleolar phosphoprotein, Nopp140, as a transcription factor

Expression of the alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) gene (agp) is activated by a key transcription factor, AGP/enhancer-binding protein (AGP/EBP, commonly called C/EBP beta), in the liver during the acute-phase response. In addition to this positive regulation, agp is negatively regulated by nucleolin (T. H. Yang et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 14:6068-6074, 1994). Other factors involve in positive regulation of the agp gene are poorly characterized. In a systematic search for factors that may interact with AGP/EBP, we have identified Nopp 140, a phosphoprotein of 140 kDa, by immunoaffinity chromatography. Nopp 140 not only functions as a transcriptional activator per se but also interacts with AGP/EBP to synergistically activate the agp gene in an AGP/EBP-binding motif-dependent manner. In addition to interacting with AGP/EBP, Nopp140 interacts specifically with TFIIB. Distinct regions of Nopp140 that interact with AGP/EBP and TFIIB have been characterized. The sequence of Nopp140 contains several stretches of serine- and acidic amino acid-rich sequences which are also found in ICP4 of herpes simplex virus type 1, a known transcription factor that interacts with TFIIB. The physical interaction between TFIIB and wild-type Nopp140 or several deletion mutants of Nopp140 correlates with the ability of Nopp140 to activate the agp gene synergistically with AGP/EBP. Thus, the molecular mechanism for agp gene activation may involve the interaction of AGP/EBP and TFIIB mediated by coactivator Nopp140.

Transcriptional induction of the alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) gene by synergistic interaction of two alternative activator forms of AGP/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP beta) and NF-kappaB or Nopp140

Alpha-1 acid glycoprotein/enhancer-binding protein (AGP/EBP) (C/EBPbeta), a member of the C/EBP family, is one of the key transcription factors responsible for the induction of a wide array of genes, some of which are expressed during the acute-phase response. Both activator and repressor were shown to be encoded by the intronless agp/ebp or its rat and human homologs, which contain a common bZIP domain at their C-terminal regions. Expression of the AGP gene (agp) is regulated by AGP/EBP in liver during the acute-phase response. However, the molecular mechanism for this regulation is poorly understood. The experiments reported here demonstrate that two activator forms of AGP/EBP, one of which has an additional 21 amino acids at its N-terminal region, are expressed in liver as well as in a number of cell lines. We have also demonstrated that NF-kappaB and a phosphoprotein of 140 kDa, Nopp140, interact with different AGP/EBP activators synergistically, which results in induction of the agp gene in an AGP/EBP-binding-motif-dependent manner. Furthermore, extracellular stimuli that are known to be NF-kappaB inducers can selectively activate the agp gene by cooperating with one of the two activator forms of AGP/EBP. The physiological significance of differential regulation for the function of two activator forms of AGP/EBP through selective interaction with different transcription factors is discussed.

Identification of a novel variant hepatocyte growth factor secreted by spleen-derived stromal cells

Stromal cells can interact with parenchymal cells by secreting various cytokines to affect the growth, differentiation or movement of the latter. Here we report the identification and characterization of a novel variant hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) from the conditioned medium of stromal cells derived from mouse spleen. Compared to human HGF, it has much lower heparin-binding activity and lacks the beta-chain. Its molecular weight, 70 kDa, is very close to that of the alpha-chain of HGF. Human HGF homologue was not found in the conditioned medium. The conditioned medium of stromal cells, like recombinant HGF, could inhibit the growth of rat hepatoma cells. The inhibitory activity was presumably attributed to this novel HGF because the inhibitory activity, as the existence of this novel HGF, was confined to the identical fractions after heparin-column chromatography. Furthermore, this activity could be specifically abrogated by neutralizing anti-HGF antibodies.