Ablation of the decorin gene enhances experimental hepatic fibrosis and impairs hepatic healing in mice.

ABSTRACT: Accumulation of connective tissue is a typical feature of chronic liver diseases. Decorin, a small leucine-rich proteoglycan, regulates collagen fibrillogenesis during development, and by directly blocking the bioactivity of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1), it exerts a protective effect against fibrosis. However, no in vivo investigations on the role of decorin in liver have been performed before. In this study we used decorin-null (Dcn-/-) mice to establish the role of decorin in experimental liver fibrosis and repair. Not only the extent of experimentally induced liver fibrosis was more severe in Dcn-/- animals, but also the healing process was significantly delayed vis-à-vis wild-type mice. Collagen I, III, and IV mRNA levels in Dcn-/- livers were higher than those of wild-type li

SUBMITTER: Baghy K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5074558 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature