Spontaneous hepatic fibrosis in transgenic mice overexpressing PDGF-A

Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) plays a central role in repair mechanisms after acute and chronic tissue damage. To further evaluate the role of PDGF-A in liver fibrogenesis in vivo, we generated transgenic mice with hepatocyte-specific overexpression of PDGF-A using the CRP-gene promoter. Transgenic but not wildtype mice showed expression of PDGF-A mRNA in the liver. Hepatic PDGF-A overexpression was accompanied by a significant increase in hepatic procollagen III mRNA expression as well as TGF-beta1 expression. Liver histology showed increased deposition of extracellular matrix in transgenic but not in wildtype mice. PDGF-A-transgenic mice showed positive sinusoidal staining for alpha-SMA indicating an activation of hepatic stellate cells. Since the profibrogenic effect of PDGF-A was accompanied by increased TGF-beta1 protein concentration in the liver of transgenic mice, it can be postulated that PDGF-A upregulates expression of TGF-beta1 which is a strong activator of hepatic stellate cells. Thus, these results point towards a fibrosis induction by PDGF-A via the TGF-beta1 signalling pathway. In conclusion, expression and functional analysis of PDGF-A in the liver of transgenic mice suggest a relevant profibrogenic role of PDGF-A via TGF-beta1 induction. Counteracting PDGF-A may therefore be one of the effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors which showed protective effects in animal models of liver fibrosis.