Abstract
CD4+ T cells are considered to be vital in chronic liver diseases, but their exact roles in hepatic capillarization, the typical characteristic of liver fibrosis, are poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the roles of typical subtype of CD4+ T cells, named T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cells in liver fibrosis. Taking advantage of well established fibrotic rat model, we conducted in vitro and in vivo experiments to explore the interactions between liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) and Th1/2 cells; meanwhile we evaluated the degree of hepatic capillarization when inhibiting these interactions with inhibitory antibodies. Our results showed that prohibiting interactions between Th2 cells and LSECs caused the restoration of fenestrae, increased cytokine level of Th1 cells and reduction of hepatic capillarization; inhibiting the interaction between Th1 cells and LSECs produced the opposite effects. Moreover, increased Rho and myosin light chain phosphorylation were observed when Th1 cells were inhibited with the corresponding inhibitory antibody; Th2 cell inhibition yielded the opposite results. This study indicated that Th1/2 cells steer the capillarization process in different directions and this effect is probably mediated by the Rho-Rho kinase (ROCK)-myosin signaling pathway.