Expression of MMP-2 in Hepatic Stellate Cells during Rat Hepatic Fibrosis and its Inhibition by Interleukin-10

Objective To investigate matrix metalloproteinases-2(MMP-2) expression in hepatic fibrosis and the antifibrogenic role of exogenous interleukin-10(IL-10). Methods 60 rats were randomly divided into a normal control group(N group, 8 rats), CCl-4 group(28 rats) and CCl-4+IL-10 group(24 rats). At 7th and 11th week, rats in each group were routinely perfused with pronase E and type Ⅳ collagnase through portal vein catheter and the suspension was centrifuged by 11%nycodenz density gradient to isolate hepatic stellate cells(HSC). RT-PCR was used to analyze RNA of HSC. Densitometric data was standardized with β-actin. Immunocytochemistry was performed to detect MMP-2 expression in cultured HSC. Results Compared to N group at the 7th week, MMP-2 mRNA increased in both CCl-4 group and CCl-4+IL-10 group(P0.01); but IL-10 group was lower than the CCl-4 group. At the 11th week, MMP-2 mRNA in IL-10 group was still lower than CCl-4 group. Same results were found by immunocytochemistry. Conclusion MMP-2 expression increased in the early stage of hepatic fibrosis but decreased by IL-10 intervention. IL-10 exhibits an antifibrogenic effect by suppressing MMP-2 expression.