Molecular Alterations of the Proteins of the Fibrogenic System

Biliary tract injury (BTI) is a serious accident manifested by repetitive cholangitis that requires treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics, prolonged surgery, produces significant risk of re-stenosis, re-operation, secondary biliary cirrhosis, portal hypertension and is capable of leading to death of the patient. Biliary obstruction produces complex hepatic changes with bile acid stagnation that favors the deposition of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules. LVB produces inflammation, oxidative stress, over-expression of TLR, altered fibrinolytic system with increased plasma levels of PAI-1 (p=0.02), decreased levels of MMP-3 (p=0.001). Although levels and deposition in liver tissue of MMP-8 and TIMP-1 were found significantly increased in LVB. Conclusion. Imbalance of pro-fibrogenic / fibrinolytic molecules occurs in LVB, which favors ECM deposition. Overexpression of fibrinolytic proteins such as MMP-8 suggests that liver fibrosis could be limited, preventing liver dysfunction in patients.