Pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Synthesis of collagen and non-collagen proteins in cell culture and in vivo
Ramadori, G.
Zeitschrift für Gastroenterologie 30(Suppl 1): 17-20
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-2771 PMID: 1449011 Document Number: 390096
In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that Ito-cells are able to express the "smooth-muscle"-isoform of alpha-actin which seems to characterize the activated stage of the cells. "Activated" Ito-cells synthesize and secrete collagen- and non-collagen components of the extracellular matrix like fibronectin, laminin, tenascin and entactin. "Quiscent" Ito-cells synthesize mostly collagen type IV and III while "activated" Ito-cells also synthesize alpha-2-macroglobulin, a potent protease inhibitor. The in vitro obtained results were confirmed in vivo as demonstrated on liver sections from chronically damaged liver (carbon tetrachloride administration) by immunohistochemistry and by in situ hybridisation technique. Sinusoidal endothelial cells were shown to synthesize collagen type IV and fibronectin during the time in culture.