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Difficulty with diagnosis of malignant pancreatic neoplasms coexisting with chronic pancreatitis

2005; Baishideng Publishing Group; Volume: 11; Issue: 32 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3748/wjg.v11.i32.4931

2219-2840

Fabio Marra, Raffaella DeFranco, Gaia Robino, Erica Novo, Eva Efsen, Sabrina Pastacaldi, E. Zamara, Alessandro Vercelli, Benedetta Lottini, Carlo Spirlı̀, Mario Strazzabosco, Massimo Pinzani, Maurizio Parola,

Pancreatic and Hepatic Oncology Research

AIM:To investigate the effects of troglitazone (TGZ), an anti-diabetic drug which activates peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor- (PPAR-), for liver tissue repair, and the development of ductular reaction, following common bile duct ligation (BDL) in rats. METHODS:Rats were supplemented with TGZ (0.2% w/w in the pelleted food) for 1 wk before BDL or sham operation.Animals were killed at 1, 2, or 4 wk after surgery. RESULTS:The development of liver fibrosis was reduced in rats receiving TGZ, as indicated by significant decreases of procollagen type I gene expression and liver hydroxyproline levels.Accumulation of -smooth-muscle actin (SMA)-expressing cells surrounding newly formed bile ducts following BDL, as well as total hepatic levels of SMA were partially inhibited by TGZ treatment, indicating the presence of a reduced number and/or activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and myofibroblasts.Development of the ductular reaction was inhibited by TGZ, as indicated by histochemical evaluation and hepatic activity of -glutamyltransferase (GGT). CONCLUSION:Treatment with thiazolidinedione reduces ductular proliferation and fibrosis in a model of chronic cholestasis, and suggests that limiting cholangiocyte proliferation may contribute to the lower development of scarring in this system.