ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the regulatory effect of interleukin-10 (IL10) on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) through platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HSC were divided randomly into 4 groups. Group 1 served as a control. HSC were incubated with 1 ng/ml, 5 ng/ml, and 25 ng/ml IL-10 in groups 2, 3 and 4. RT-PCR and western blot were used to detect the expression of PDGF and MAPK protein ERK and p38 and alpha-SMA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, expressions of ERK, p38 and alpha-SMA of groups 2, 3 and 4 were significantly lower (F values were 240.47, 21.39, 28.86 respectively. IL-10 inhibited PDGF and MAPK protein ERK and p38 and alpha-SMA expression in a dose-dependent way.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IL-10 inhibits activation of HSC through the PDGF/MAPK pathway.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Cell Line , Cell Proliferation , Hepatocytes , Cell Biology , Interleukin-10 , Pharmacology , Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases , Platelet-Derived Growth Factor , Signal TransductionABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of somatostatin analogue-octreotide (OCT) on expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) gene of murine hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HSCs separated from Sprague Dawley rats by in situ perfusion and Nycodenz gradient were divided into 5 groups. HSCs in 4 out of 5 groups were co-cultured with octreotide at different dosages, and the remaining group served as control. The expression of CTGF and TGF-beta mRNA were assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>OCT down-regulates the expression of CTGF and TGF-beta mRNA in HSCs. The effect is increased with a dose dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>OCT could exert the inhibitory effect on HSCs by down-regulating the expression of CTGF and TGF-beta. This provides a potential for the prevention and management of hepatic fibrosis.</p>