Discoidin Domain Receptor 1: Isoform Expression and Potential Functions in Cirrhotic Human Liver

• Published in: The American journal of pathology Vol. 178; no. 3; pp. 1134 - 1144
• Main Authors: SUNMI SONG, SHACKEL, Nicholas A, WANG, Xin M, AJAMI, Katerina, MCCAUGHAN, Geoffrey W, GORRELL, Mark D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Society for Investigative Pathology 01.03.2011
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Adhesion; Cell Line; Cell Movement; Discoidin Domain Receptor 1; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Gene Expression Regulation; Green Fluorescent Proteins - metabolism; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Liver - enzymology; Liver - pathology; Liver Cirrhosis - enzymology; Liver Cirrhosis - pathology; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinases - metabolism; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Other diseases. Semiology; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Protein Isoforms - chemistry; Protein Isoforms - genetics; Protein Isoforms - metabolism; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - chemistry; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - genetics; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - metabolism; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - metabolism; Regular; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Transfection; Young Adult; Human; Cirrhosis; Discoidin domain receptor 1; Anatomic pathology; Molecular form; Digestive system; Liver; Digestive diseases; Hepatic disease; trk receptor
• ISSN: 0002-9440; 1525-2191; 1525-2191
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2010.11.068

Discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that binds and is activated by collagens. Transcriptional profiling of cirrhosis in human liver using a DNA array and quantitative PCR detected elevated mRNA expression of DDR1 compared with that in nondiseased liver. The present study characterized DDR1 expression in cirrhotic and nondiseased human liver and examined the cellular effects of DDR1 expression. mRNA expression of all five isoforms of DDR1 was detected in human liver, whereas DDR1a demonstrated differential expression in liver with hepatitis C virus and primary biliary cirrhosis compared with nondiseased liver. In addition, immunoblot analysis detected shed fragments of DDR1 more readily in cirrhotic liver than in nondiseased liver. Inasmuch as DDR1 is subject to protease-mediated cleavage after prolonged interaction with collagen, this differential expression may indicate more intense activation of DDR1 protein in cirrhotic compared with nondiseased liver. In situ hybridization and immunofluorescence localized intense DDR1 mRNA and protein expression to epithelial cells including hepatocytes at the portal-parenchymal interface and the luminal aspect of the biliary epithelium. Overexpression of DDR1a altered hepatocyte behavior including increased adhesion and less migration on extracelular matrix substrates. DDR1a regulated extracellular expression of matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 2. These data elucidate DDR1 function pertinent to cirrhosis and indicate the importance of epithelial cell-collagen interactions in chronic liver injury.