Matrine inhibits production and actions of fibrogenic cytokines released by mouse peritoneal macrophages.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of matrine (Mat) on production and actions of fibrogenic cytokines from mouse peritoneal macrophages.


METHODS
Mouse peritoneal macrophages were primed with calcimycin 1 micromol/L for 8 h then elicited by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) 100 microg/L for 6 h to induce fibrogenic cytokines. Proliferative and collagen stimulating activity in the macrophage culture supernatants was determined by crystal violet staining assay and [3H]-proline incorporation assay using rat hepatic stellate HSC-T6 cell or mouse fibroblast NIH3T3 cell. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) activity was measured by [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay using Mv-1-Lu mink lung epithelial cell.


RESULTS
Mat (0.5-2 mmol/L) was shown to significantly inhibit LPS-induced collagen stimulating activities and TGFbeta production (P < 0.01) whereas did not inhibit proliferative activities induced by macrophages. Macrophage conditioned medium (MCM)-driven proliferation and collagen synthesis of HSC-T6 cells as well as NIH3T3 cells were attenuated by Mat (0.5-2 mmol/L) in a concentration-dependent manner.


CONCLUSIONS
Antifibrotic effects of Mat on hepatic stellate cells may be related to reduction of fibrogenic cytokine production and blockade of their actions.
Zhang
J P
JP
Department of Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China. zjp@smmu.edu.cn
Zhang
M
M
Jin
C
C
Zhou
B
B
Xie
W F
WF
Guo
C
C
Zhang
C
C
Qian
D H
DH
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011807:Quinolizines; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000093842:Matrines
D000470:Alkaloids; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D011807:Quinolizines; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D003094:Collagen; D000093842:Matrines