Antiangiogenic and antifibrogenic activity of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in bile duct-ligated portal hypertensive rats

摘要

Objective Antiangiogenic strategies have been proposed as a promising new approach for the therapy of portal hypertension and chronic liver disease. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a powerful endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor whose role in portal hypertension remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed at determining the involvement of PEDF in cirrhotic portal hypertension and the therapeutic efficacy of its supplementation.