Cytoplasmic domain of tissue factor promotes liver fibrosis in mice

AIM: To evaluate the role of tissue factor (TF) and protease activated receptor (PAR)-2 in liver fibrosis. METHODS: ). Hepatic fibrosis area was assessed by quantitative imaging of picrosirius red staining. Hepatic collagen content was assessed by hydroxyproline levels. Hepatic stellate cells (αSMA positive) and hepatic macrophages (CD68 positive) were identified by immunohistochemistry. Hepatic gene expression was determined by PCR and liver TGFβ1 content by ELISA. RESULTS: . The observed reduction in histological fibrosis was accompanied by a significant decrease in the hepatic content of TGFβ, the prototypic fibrogenic cytokine, as well as fewer activated hepatic stellate cells and hepatic macrophages. Deletion of the TF cytoplasmic signalling domain reduced hepatic fibrosis to levels similar to those observed in mice lacking PAR-2 signalling but combined deletion provided no added protection against fibrosis indicating a lack of mutual modulating effects that have been observed in other contexts such as angiogenic responses. CONCLUSION: Tissue factor cytoplasmic domain is involved in TF-PAR-2 signalling initiating hepatic fibrosis and is a potential therapeutic target, as its deletion would not impact coagulation.