Osteopontin, an oxidant stress sensitive cytokine, up-regulates collagen-I via integrin α(V)β(3) engagement and PI3K/pAkt/NFκB signaling.

ABSTRACT:

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A key feature in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis is fibrillar Collagen-I deposition; yet, mediators that could be key therapeutic targets remain elusive. We hypothesized that osteopontin (OPN), an extracellular matrix (ECM) cytokine expressed in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), could drive fibrogenesis by modulating the HSC pro-fibrogenic phenotype and Collagen-I expression. Recombinant OPN (rOPN) up-regulated Collagen-I protein in primary HSCs in a transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ)-independent fashion, whereas it down-regulated matrix metalloprotease-13 (MMP13), thus favoring scarring. rOPN activated primary HSCs, confirmed by increased α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expression and enhanced their invasive and wound-healing potential. HSCs isolated from wild-type (WT

SUBMITTER: Urtasun R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3561739 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature