Connective tissue growth factor is directly related to liver fibrosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Connective tissue growth factor is a mitogenic, chemotactic, and cell matrix-inducing factor for fibroblasts, and is exclusively and directly induced by transforming growth factor-beta 1. In skin fibrosis, connective tissue growth factor is thought to be a downstream effector of transforming growth factor-beta 1 that is directly involved in the proliferation of connective tissue cells and the accumulation of matrix. Our aim is to confirm the involvement of connective tissue growth factor in liver fibrosis. METHODOLOGY: Specimens obtained from autopsy of 12 patients with normal liver (n = 3), hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 3), liver cirrhosis secondary to alcoholic abuse (n = 3), or viral hepatitis (n = 3), were used for digoxigenin labeled in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Abundant connective tissue growth factor messages were detected in the fibrotic area between cirrhotic nodules. Hepatocytes did not show any signals even when they became carcinomas. Normal livers showed few or no signals. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirmed the direct relationship between connective tissue growth factor gene expression and liver fibrotic change.