TIMP expression in toxic and cholestatic liver injury in rat.

Abstract Background/Aims: Hepatic fibrosis is a dynamic pathological process with a net accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. Recent evidence suggests that besides their increased synthesis, inhibition of matrix degradation plays a significant role. ECM degradation occurs via metalloproteinases which are inhibited in situ by specific tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). The aim of our studies was to determine the expression of TIMPs during toxic liver injury and cholestatic liver injury leading to fibrosis. Methods: We examined the expression of TIMP-1, -2 and -3 in two different rat models for liver injury (intraperitoneal CCl 4 injection and bile duct ligation) by Nor…