Purpose
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their endogenous tissue inhibitors [tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs)]
have been implicated in tissue injury and remodeling in many organs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression
of MMP-3 and -9, and TIMP-1, -2, and -3 and their relationship to liver fibrosis in infants with biliary atresia.
Methods
The expression of MMP-3 and-9 and TIMP-1, -2 and -3 was investigated in liver tissue samples of nine patients with biliary
atresia. In addition, the expression of CCR-4 and CCR-5 was analyzed to investigate the activation of Th1 and Th2 cells. The
mRNA levels were measured by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.
Results
The expression of MMP-3 was higher than that of MMP-9 in all samples (P < 0.01). The expression of TIMP-1 was higher than that of TIMP-2 and -3 in all samples (P < 0.01). The expression of CCR-5 was higher than that of CCR-4 (P < 0.05), which implied higher activation of Th1 cells relative to Th2 cells.
Conclusion
Our findings suggest that MMP-3, possibly induced by Th1 cytokines, and its balance with TIMP-1, may be one of the factors
involved in the pathogenesis of biliary atresia.
Keywords Biliary atresia - CC chemokines - Inhibitor of metalloproteinase - Liver fibrosis - Metalloproteinase