Neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11) in cirrhotic liver: A new target to treat portal hypertension?

Proangiogenic Cytokines as Hypoxia-Dependent Factors Stimulating Migration of Human Hepatic Stellate Cells

“…This interpretation is also supported by the morphological analysis performed in fibrotic/cirrhotic livers obtained at 9 weeks in the chronic CCl 4 experimental models, a time point characterized by established fibrosis and portal hypertension, 38,39 as well as in livers obtained from patients with HCV-related cirrhosis. As previously reported, the expression of VEGF and Ang-1 as well as of Flt-1, Flk-1, and Tie-2 become clearly evident in liver tissue in the presence of a chronic wound-healing reaction.…”

“…Advanced fibrosis was induced by chronic treatment with CCl 4 administered by gavage twice a week for 9 weeks. 38,39 Control animals received an equal volume of vehicle.…”

Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Attenuates Elevations in Ca2+ and Protects Hepatocytes by Stimulating Net Plasma Membrane Ca2+ Efflux

“…Of particular interest is a report that ANP infusion decreases portal pressure and increases hepatic blood flow in cirrhotic patients (134). Moreover, a recent study has demonstrated that inhibition of ANP degradation decreases intrahepatic vascular resistance, with little effects on systemic hemodynamics in cirrhotic rats (114). We predict that such treatment will also protect hepatocytes against Ca 2ϩ -and calpain-dependent injury.…”

Calcium-dependent diuretic system in preascitic liver cirrhosis

“…saline) has been employed in our laboratory for years. We never experienced any hemorrhagic shock in our rats and uniformly applied in control and cirrhotic animals, this sampling of small amounts of blood never induced significant hypotension or impairment of cardiac function [16,19]. Blood samples withdrawn 60 min after the injection of vehicle or F 0.5 were also used to measure plasma concentrations of vasopressin (AVP), plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone (A), norepinephrine (N), and plasma concentration of nitrites and nitrates (NO 2 /NO 3 ).…”

“…Rats were anaesthetized as described elsewhere [16]. Blood was sampled (time 0) by cardiac puncture (0.3 cc) and inulin (IN) 10% (w/v) (Laevosan-Gesellschaft, Linz/Donau, Austria) plus para-aminohippurate (PAH) 20% (w/v) (Nephrotest, BAG Gmbh, Munich, Germany) were administered into the caudal vein as a priming bolus followed by a continuous infusion for 150 min, in order to assess glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow (RPF) at different times by means of their respective steady-state plasma clearances (CIN and CPAH) [17][18][19].…”