title: [Effect of RAR-beta transfection on the proliferation and phenotype of rat hepatic stellate cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of RAR-beta transfection plus treatment with the corresponding ligand ATRA on the proliferation and phenotype of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC).
  
  
  METHODS
  PDGF-activated hepatic stellate cells of rats were transfected with eukaryotic expression vector pCMV-script-RAR-beta, which was verified by western blot. The proliferation of transfected HSC was assayed by BrdU incorporation as well as MTT methods. Their phenotype (alpha-SMA and desmin) was observed by immunocytochemistry assay with image analysis and RAR-beta protein expression was detected by western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transfection of RAR-beta gene and treatment with ligand ATRA could increase the expression of RAR-beta protein for at least 144h and inhibit the proliferation and the expression of alpha-SMA and desmin in PDGF-activated HSC. Significant statistical differences were perceived comparing with sham-transfected, only-PDGF treated, non-ligand treated and irrelevant ligand-treated HSC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transfected with RAR-beta gene as well as using related ligand ATRA could suppress the proliferation and reverse the activation phenotype of activated HSC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jin Sheng
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Guang Cun
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Nong
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiu Rong
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002455:Cell Division; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology*; D010641:Phenotype; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; C082925:retinoic acid receptor beta; D014212:Tretinoin