Background: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) belongs to a family of factors that regulate fibrogenesis and wound healing. While the significance of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in liver fibrosis is well established, the role of CTGF in fibrosing hepatopathy is still unknown.
Methods: CTGF was analyzed in 10 normal and in 16 cirrhotic liver tissue samples. Northern blot analysis was used to examine the concomitant expression of CTGF and TGF-beta1 mRNAs, and the cellular localization of CTGF mRNA was studied by in situ hybridization. For identification of myofibroblasts and activated hepatic stellate cells, alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) immunohistochemistry was used.
Results: Northern blot analysis showed 6.5-fold enhanced expression of CTGF mRNA and 7.8-fold enhanced expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA in liver cirrhosis in comparison with normal controls (p<0.01). By in situ hybridization, CTGF mRNA was detectable in only a few spindle cells in the portal tracts in normal liver samples. In contrast, there was strong expression of CTGF mRNA in fibroblasts and myofibroblast-like cells present in fibrous septa surrounding the cirrhotic nodules, in stellate cells, in endothelial cells and in mesenchymal cells around ductular proliferations, and in ductular epithelial cells. There was a strong correlation between CTGF mRNA and TGF-beta1 mRNA as well as the degree of fibrosis (p<0.01).
Conclusions: Overexpression of CTGF in liver cirrhosis, especially in fibroblasts/myofibroblasts and stellate cells, suggests that this novel factor may play an important role in hepatic fibrosis.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0676.2000.020004296.x | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Exploring the Role of TRAF6-TAK1 Pathway in Podocyte Pyroptosis and Its Implications for Primary Membranous Nephropathy Therapy.
Inflammation
January 2025
Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, No. 287, Changhuai Road, Longzihu District, Bengbu, 233000, Anhui Province, China.
Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) is a prevalent renal disorder characterized by immune-mediated damage to the glomerular basement membrane, with recent studies highlighting the significant role of pyroptosis in its progression. In this study, we investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying PMN, focusing on the role of Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) in promoting disease advancement. Specifically, we examine how TRAF6 facilitates PMN progression by inducing the ubiquitination of Transforming growth factor-beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), which in turn activates the Gasdermin D (GSDMD)/Caspase-1 axis, leading to podocyte pyroptosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUncovering the intricacies of IGF-1 in Alzheimer's disease: new insights from regulation to therapeutic targeting.
Inflammopharmacology
January 2025
Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β plaques and tau tangles, leading to cognitive decline and dementia. Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) is similar in structure to insulin and is crucial for cell growth, differentiation, and regulating oxidative stress, synaptic plasticity, and mitochondrial function. IGF-1 exerts its physiological effects by binding to the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and activating PI3K/Akt pathway.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLipid Levels and Lung Cancer Risk: Findings from the Taiwan National Data Systems from 2012 to 2018.
J Epidemiol Glob Health
January 2025
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No.7, Chung Shan S. Rd., Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, 100225, Taiwan.
Background: Lipids are known to be involved in carcinogenesis, but the associations between lipid profiles and different lung cancer histological classifications remain unknown.
Methods: Individuals who participated in national adult health surveillance from 2012 to 2018 were included. For patients who developed lung cancer during follow-up, a 1:2 control group of nonlung cancer participants was selected after matching.
Anti-PD-L1 envafolimab combined with anti-VEGF suvemcitug in pretreated solid tumors and hepatocellular carcinoma: an open-label phase II study with safety run-in stage.
Invest New Drugs
January 2025
Department of Internal Medicine, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China.
Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have been the standard first-line treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the efficacy of this combination in post-line treatment is still unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of anti-PD-L1 envafolimab and novel humanized anti-VEGF suvemcitug as second-line treatment for patients with HCC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGonadal miRNomes and transcriptomes in infected fish reveal sexually dimorphic patterns of the immune response.
Funct Integr Genomics
January 2025
Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona, 08003, Spain.
Fish disease outbreaks caused by bacterial burdens are responsible for decreasing productivity in aquaculture. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms activated in the gonads after infections is pivotal for enhancing husbandry techniques in fish farms, ensuring disease management, and selecting the most resilience phenotype. The present study, with an important commercial species the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), an important commercial species in Europe, examined changes in the miRNome and transcriptome 48 h after an intraperitoneal infection with Vibrio anguillarum.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!