title: Aloe emodin suppresses myofibroblastic differentiation of rat hepatic stellate cells in primary culture.
abstract: We have studied the inhibitory effect of aloe emodin on hepatic stellate cells activation and proliferation, as these cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. Rat hepatic stellate cells were activated by contact with plastic dishes, resulting in their transformation into myofibroblast-like cells. Primary hepatic stellate cells were exposed to aloe emodin (1-10 microg/ml). Possible cytotoxic effects were measured on stellate cells and hepatocytes using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The effects of aloe emodin on production of type I collagen and smooth muscle cell alpha-actin were examined at the same concentration, by quantitative immunoprecipitation. Antiproliferative effects were examined by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. Aloe emodin at 10 microg/ml restored the morphological changes characteristic of activated primary stellate cells, reduced DNA synthesis to 95% of control hepatic stellate cells at 10 microg/ml without affecting cell viability, and inhibited type I collagen production and smooth muscle alpha-actin expression by 86.77% and 99%, respectively, which suggest that aloe emodin is a potent inhibitor of stellate cell transformation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Medicinal Resources Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Ji-Xing
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Nan
authors.forename: Sung Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eun-Jeon
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yu Zhe
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Dong Hwan
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Sohn
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000880:Anthraquinones; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004642:Emodin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005562:Formazans / Q000378:metabolism; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000880:Anthraquinones; D024042:Collagen Type I; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005562:Formazans; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; C079782:MTT formazan; D004247:DNA; C518327:aloe emodin; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D004642:Emodin