Angiostatin inhibits experimental liver fibrosis in mice

Liver fibrosis is a response to chronic hepatic damage, which ultimately leads to liver failure and necessitates liver transplantation. A characteristic of fibrosis is pathological vessel growth. This type of angiogenesis may contribute to the disturbance of hepatocyte perfusion dynamics and lead to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of colorectal disease 2004-07, Vol.19 (4), p.387-394
Main Authors: VOGTEN, J. Mathys, DRIXLER, Tamas A, TE VELDE, Elisabeth A, SCHIPPER, Marguerite E, VAN VROONHOVEN, Theo J. M. V, VOEST, Emile E, RINKES, Inne H. M. Borel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Angiogenesis Inhibitors - pharmacology
Angiostatins - pharmacology
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Differentiation - drug effects
Female
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
Liver - blood supply
Liver Cirrhosis - blood
Liver Cirrhosis - prevention & control
Medical sciences
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Neovascularization, Pathologic - prevention & control
von Willebrand Factor - analysis
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Summary:Liver fibrosis is a response to chronic hepatic damage, which ultimately leads to liver failure and necessitates liver transplantation. A characteristic of fibrosis is pathological vessel growth. This type of angiogenesis may contribute to the disturbance of hepatocyte perfusion dynamics and lead to aggravation of disease. We hypothesized that angiostatin can inhibit pathological vessel growth and, consequently, the development of hepatic fibrosis. Hepatic fibrosis was induced by injection of carbon tetrachloride for 5 weeks. Angiostatin mice received carbon tetrachloride for 5 weeks and angiostatin during weeks 4 and 5. After 5 weeks, immunohistochemistry for endothelial cell marker von Willebrand factor and for cell proliferation was performed. Angiogenesis was quantified by counting the number of immunopositive microvessels. Also, the relative fibrotic surface was determined using Sirius Red histostaining and computer image analysis. Immunohistochemistry revealed increased expression for von Willebrand factor in fibrotic livers. Immunopositive microvessels were localized in fibrotic areas surrounding larger vessels and in emerging fibrotic septa. Angiostatin reduced the number of immunopositive microvessels by 69% (p
ISSN:0179-1958
1432-1262
DOI:10.1007/s00384-003-0562-4