The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Silencing tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) with short interfering RNA reveals a role for TIMP-1 in hepatic stellate cell proliferation

Silencing tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) with short interfering RNA reveals a role for TIMP-1 in hepatic stellate cell proliferation
Silencing tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) with short interfering RNA reveals a role for TIMP-1 in hepatic stellate cell proliferation
Myofibroblastic, activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC) play a pivotal role in the development of liver fibrosis through the secretion of fibrillar collagens and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and -2. TIMPs are believed to promote hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting both matrix degradation and apoptosis of HSC. In other cell types, there is evidence that TIMP-1 has effects on proliferation, however the role of TIMPs in the regulation of HSC proliferation remains unexplored. Therefore, we have used short interfering RNA (siRNA) to investigate the effects of autocrine TIMP-1 and -2 on HSC proliferation. TIMP-1 and -2 siRNA were highly effective, producing peak target protein knockdown compared to negative control siRNA of 92% and 63%, respectively. Specific silencing of TIMP-1, using siRNA, significantly reduced HSC proliferation. TIMP-1 was localised in part to the HSC nucleus and TIMP-1 siRNA resulted in loss of both cytoplasmic and nuclear TIMP-1. Attenuated proliferation was associated with reduced Akt phosphorylation and was partially rescued by addition of recombinant TIMP-1. We have revealed a novel autocrine mitogenic effect of TIMP-1 on HSC, which may involve Akt-dependent and specific nuclear mechanisms of action. We suggest that TIMP-1 might promote liver fibrosis by means other than its previously described anti-apoptotic effect on HSC. Moreover, these findings, together with our previous reports and the emerging data from in vivo studies of TIMP inhibition, provide strong evidence that TIMP-1 is mechanistically central to liver fibrosis and an important potential therapeutic target.
liver fibrosis, rna interference, akt
0006-291X
277-282
Fowell, Andrew J.
d257096a-d4a5-43c0-aa52-51c5e8e4595e
Collins, Jane E.
be0e66f1-3036-47fa-9d7e-914c48710ba4
Duncombe, Dale R.
f821fd6b-4a92-4928-aed7-441ab821bc49
Pickering, Judith A.
d9edf436-4fac-44bc-ba99-7eb3b33bf323
Rosenberg, William M.C.
e9bcd469-ba64-4507-8c7f-145cd9ed2ba3
Benyon, R. Christopher
6efa9278-56e6-47ec-9854-78afd98dd4c9
Fowell, Andrew J.
d257096a-d4a5-43c0-aa52-51c5e8e4595e
Collins, Jane E.
be0e66f1-3036-47fa-9d7e-914c48710ba4
Duncombe, Dale R.
f821fd6b-4a92-4928-aed7-441ab821bc49
Pickering, Judith A.
d9edf436-4fac-44bc-ba99-7eb3b33bf323
Rosenberg, William M.C.
e9bcd469-ba64-4507-8c7f-145cd9ed2ba3
Benyon, R. Christopher
6efa9278-56e6-47ec-9854-78afd98dd4c9

Fowell, Andrew J., Collins, Jane E., Duncombe, Dale R., Pickering, Judith A., Rosenberg, William M.C. and Benyon, R. Christopher (2011) Silencing tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) with short interfering RNA reveals a role for TIMP-1 in hepatic stellate cell proliferation. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 407 (2), 277-282. (doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.02.009). (PMID:21300026)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Myofibroblastic, activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC) play a pivotal role in the development of liver fibrosis through the secretion of fibrillar collagens and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and -2. TIMPs are believed to promote hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting both matrix degradation and apoptosis of HSC. In other cell types, there is evidence that TIMP-1 has effects on proliferation, however the role of TIMPs in the regulation of HSC proliferation remains unexplored. Therefore, we have used short interfering RNA (siRNA) to investigate the effects of autocrine TIMP-1 and -2 on HSC proliferation. TIMP-1 and -2 siRNA were highly effective, producing peak target protein knockdown compared to negative control siRNA of 92% and 63%, respectively. Specific silencing of TIMP-1, using siRNA, significantly reduced HSC proliferation. TIMP-1 was localised in part to the HSC nucleus and TIMP-1 siRNA resulted in loss of both cytoplasmic and nuclear TIMP-1. Attenuated proliferation was associated with reduced Akt phosphorylation and was partially rescued by addition of recombinant TIMP-1. We have revealed a novel autocrine mitogenic effect of TIMP-1 on HSC, which may involve Akt-dependent and specific nuclear mechanisms of action. We suggest that TIMP-1 might promote liver fibrosis by means other than its previously described anti-apoptotic effect on HSC. Moreover, these findings, together with our previous reports and the emerging data from in vivo studies of TIMP inhibition, provide strong evidence that TIMP-1 is mechanistically central to liver fibrosis and an important potential therapeutic target.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 8 April 2011
Keywords: liver fibrosis, rna interference, akt

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 179461
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/179461
ISSN: 0006-291X
PURE UUID: 0eba2cda-1184-4a66-837a-6a701c6d0367

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 01 Apr 2011 14:15
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:49

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Andrew J. Fowell
Author: Jane E. Collins
Author: Dale R. Duncombe
Author: Judith A. Pickering
Author: William M.C. Rosenberg
Author: R. Christopher Benyon

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×