Expression of insulin－like growth factor 1 and insulin－like growth factor 1 receptor and its intervention by interleukin－lO in experimental hepatic fibrosis

AIM: To study the expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R and its intervention by interleuldn-10 in the course of experimental hepatic fibrosis.METHODS: Hepatic fibrosis was induced in rats by carbon tetrachloride intoxication and liver specimens were taken from the rats administered CCl4 with or without IL-10 treatment and the animals of the control group.Immunoreactivities for insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)and IGF-1 receptor(IGF-1R) were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, and their intensities were evaluated in different animal groups.RESULTS: The positive levels for IGF-1 and IGF-1R were increased with the development of hepatic fibrosis, with the positive signals localized in cytoplasm and/or at the plasmic membrane of hepatocytes. The positive signals of IGF-1 and IGF-1R were observed more frequently (P