Activation of nuclear factor-кB and expression of matrix Gla protein mRNA in vasculopathy of portal hypertension

Objective To investigate the activation of nuclear factor-кB(NF-кB)and expression of matrix Gla protein(MGP)mRNA in splenic artery and vein of PHT patients and its role in the patho- genesis of portal hypertensive vasculopathy.Methods Twenty-eight patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis portal hypertension(20 males and 8 females)admitted to Tongji Hospital were subjected to splenectomy plus pericardial devascularization during hospitalization(experimental group),while 12 patients(8 males and 4 females)with traumatic spleen rupture subject to splenectomy during the same period as the control group.Chemiluminescent electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA)was used to detect the activity of NF-кB in splenic artery and vein,and the expression of MGP mRNA in splenic artery and vein of PHT pa- tients and normal vascular was assayed by RT-PCR.Result The expression of MGP mRNA in splenic ar- tery and vein of PHT group was 0.58 + 0.19 and 0.55±0.15 respectively,significantly higher than in control group(0.23±0.10 and 0.26±0.13,P0.05).The activity of NF-кB in splenic artery and vein of PHT patients was significantly higher than in control group(P0.05),and the expression of MGP mR- NA in splenic artery and vein of PHT patients had a significant positive correlation with the activity of NF- KB(r=O.692,P0.05;r=0.703,P0.05,respectively).Conclusion Activation of NF-KB and sig- nificant expression of MGP mRNA in splenic artery and vein of PHT can regulate proliferation and migra- tion of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC),and also take part in the development of portal hypertensive vasculopathy.