While the cellular mechanisms of liver regeneration have been thoroughly studied, the role of extracellular matrix (ECM) in liver regeneration is still poorly understood. We utilized a proteomics-based approach to identify the shifts in ECM composition after CCl4 or DDC treatment and studied their effect on the proliferation of liver cells by combining biophysical and cell culture methods. We identified notable alterations in the ECM structural components (eg collagens I, IV, V, fibronectin, elastin) as well as in non-structural proteins (eg olfactomedin-4, thrombospondin-4, armadillo repeat-containing x-linked protein 2 (Armcx2)). Comparable alterations in ECM composition were seen in damaged human livers. The increase in collagen content and decrease in elastic fibers resulted in rearrangement and increased stiffness of damaged liver ECM. Interestingly, the alterations in ECM components were nonhomogenous and differed between periportal and pericentral areas and thus our experiments demonstrated the differential ability of selected ECM components to regulate the proliferation of hepatocytes and biliary cells. We define for the first time the alterations in the ECM composition of livers recovering from damage and present functional evidence for a coordinated ECM remodelling that ensures an efficient restoration of liver tissue.

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The paper explores the structure and luminescence of sol-gel-derived SnO 2 :Eu and SnO 2 :Eu,Sb nanopowders which may be useful as electrically conductive phosphors. The samples were sintered in air at temperatures reaching up to 1400°C. Raman-, SEM-, EDX-and photoluminescence characterization of the samples was carried out.High-temperature annealing of SnO 2 :Eu leads to a nanoparticulate phosphor with considerable efficiency of host-sensitized Eu 3+ emission under UV excitation although the emission is slightly quenched at room temperature. While Sb co-dopant immensely improves crystallization at 1400°C, it also impairs luminescence performance. SEM and EDX characterization suggest pronounced segregation of Eu induced by the enhanced crystal growth. Interestingly, Sb-doping seems to activate in the Raman spectrum quite a few SnO 2 vibrations which are normally rather weak or IR active.