RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 derived from biliary innate immunity contributes to hepatic fibrogenesis
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 660
OP 665
DO 10.1136/jclinpath-2011-200040
VO 64
IS 8
A1 Kenichi Harada
A1 Mayumi Chiba
A1 Atsushi Okamura
A1 Maylee Hsu
A1 Yasunori Sato
A1 Saya Igarashi
A1 Xiang Shan Ren
A1 Hiroko Ikeda
A1 Hajime Ohta
A1 Satomi Kasashima
A1 Atsuhiro Kawashima
A1 Yasuni Nakanuma
YR 2011
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/64/8/660.abstract
AB Aims Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a major chemotactic factor for hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) associated with hepatic fibrosis. In this study, among several fibrogenetic factors derived from biliary epithelial cells (BECs), MCP-1 produced by the biliary innate immune system was found to be most critical in the histogenesis of hepatic fibrogenesis.Methods Using cultured human BECs, the expression of five fibrogenetic factors including MCP-1 on stimulation with Toll-like receptor ligands, inflammatory cytokines or bile acids was examined. Moreover, in situ detection of MCP-1 and α-smooth muscle actin proteins was performed using sections from normal and diseased livers by immunohistochemistry.Results All fibrogenetic factors were detected in BECs, but only MCP-1 expression was upregulated, by all the Toll-like receptor ligands, IL-1β, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha. Proliferating bile ductules in interface areas expressed MCP-1 in diseased livers accompanying α-smooth muscle actin-positive activated HSCs.Conclusions Bile ductules proliferate in various hepatobiliary diseases, and its significance is still unknown. This study demonstrated that BECs in bile ductules could produce MCP-1, particularly, via biliary innate immunity, suggesting that MCP-1 derived from BECs plays an important role in the recruitment of HSCs to interface areas and the activation of HSCs resulting in the progression of periportal fibrosis.