Objective: To investigate the expression of integrin alpha(6)beta(1) and the activity of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) from experimental fibrotic rats induced by CCl(4).
Methods: By in situ collagenase perfusion and two-step Percoll gradient centrifugation, SECs were isolated and cultured from normal and CCl(4) -treated Wistar rats. The expression of integrin alpha(6)beta(1) was determined by cell-ELISA, and the activity of FAK was assessed by immunoprecipitation-tyrosine kinase assay.
Results: The integrin alpha(6)beta(1) was almost absent in the normal SECs and was up-regulated during the fibrotic process; SECs from experimental fibrotic rats possessed higher expression level of integrin alpha(6)beta(1) than normal SECs (P<0.05). The FAK activity in SECs from experimental fibrotic rats increased significantly as compared with the normal controls (P<0.05).
Conclusions: The expression of integrin alpha(6)beta(1) on SECs and the increase of FAK in SECs may be important in the phenotype and function changes of SECs during hepatic fibrogenesis.