Plasmin plays a key role in the regulation of profibrogenic molecules in hepatic stellate cells.

BACKGROUND: Plasmin role in transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-responsive gene regulation remains to be elucidated. Also, plasmin action on co-repressor Ski-related novel protein N (SnoN) and differential activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are unknown. Thus, the role of plasmin on profibrogenic molecule expression, SnoN transcriptional kinetics and gelatinase activation was investigated.

METHODS: Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) were transduced with adenovirus-mediated human urokinase plasminogen activator (Ad-huPA) (4 x 10(9) viral particles/ml). Overexpression of urokinase plasminogen activator and therefore of plasmin, was blocked by tranexamic acid (TA) in transduced HSC. Gene expression was monitored by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. HSC-free supernatants were used to evaluate MMP-2 and MMP-9 by zymography. SnoN, TGF-beta and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 were analysed by Western blot. Plasmin and SnoN expression kinetics were evaluated in bile duct-ligated (BDL) rats.

RESULTS: Plasmin overexpression in Ad-huPA-transduced HSC significantly decreased gene expression of profibrogenic molecules [alpha1(I)collagen 66%, TIMP-1 59%, alpha-smooth muscle actin 90% and TGF-beta 55%]. Interestingly, both SnoN gene and protein expression increased prominently. Plasmin inhibition by TA upregulated the profibrogenic genes, which respond to TGF-beta-intracellular signalling. In contrast, SnoN mRNA and protein dropped importantly. Plasmin-activated MMP-9 and MMP-2 in HSC supernatants. Taken together, these findings indicate that MMP-9 activation is totally plasmin dependent. SnoN levels significantly decreased in cholestatic-BDL rats (82%) as compared with control animals. Interestingly, hepatic plasmin levels dropped 46% in BDL rats as compared with control.

CONCLUSION: Plasmin plays a key role in regulating TGF-beta-responding genes. In particular, regulation of TGF-beta-co-repressor (SnoN) is greatly affected, which suggests SnoN as a cardinal player in cholestasis-induced fibrogenesis.