Expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in rats with hepatic fibrosis

AIM: To investigate the location and expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in the liver of normal and experimental hepatic fibrosis in rats. METHODS: The rat models of experimental immunity hepatic fibrosis (n=20) were prepared by the means of immunologic attacking with human serum albumin (HSA),and normal rats (n=10) served as control group. Both immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization methods were respectively used to detect the TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA and related antigens in liver. The liver tissue was detected to find out the gene expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 with RT-PCR. RESULTS: The TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 related antigens in livers of experimental group were expressed in myofibroblasts and fibroblasts (TIMP-1: 482±65 vs 60±20; TIMP-2:336±48 vs 50±19, P<0.001). This was the most obvious in portal area and fibrous septum. The positive signals were located in cytoplasm, not in nucleus. Such distribution and location were confirmed bysitu hybridization (TIMP-1/β-actin: 1.86±0.47 vs 0.36±0.08; TIMP-2/β-actin: 1.06±0.22 vs 0.36±0.08,P<0.001). The expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 was seen in the liver of normal rats, but the expression level was very low. However, the expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in the liver of experimental group was obviously high. CONCLUSION: In the process of hepatic fibrosis, fibroblasts and myofibroblasts are the major cells that express TIMPs.The more serious the hepatic fibrosis is in the injured liver,the higher the level of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 gene expression.

Dynamic distribution of TTK in HeLa cells: insights from an ultrastructural study

Entry into mitosis is driven by signaling cascades of mitotic kinases.Our recent studies show that TTK,a kinetochore-associated protein kinase,interacts with CENP-E,a mitotic kinesin located to corona fiber ofkinetochore.Using immunoelectron microscopy,here we show that TTK is present at the nuclear pore adjacent complex of interphase HeLa cells.Upon nuclear envelope fragmentation,TTK targets to the outermostregion of the developing kinetochores ofmonoorient chromosome as well as to spindle poles.After stable attachment,throughout chromosome congression,TTK is a constituent of the corona fibers,extending up to 90 nm away from the kinetochore outer plate.Upon metaphase alignment,TTK departs from the kinetochore and migrates toward the centrosomes.Taken together,this evidence strongly supports a model in which TTK functions in spindle checkpoint signaling cascades at both kinetochore and centrosome.