Effect of transforming growth factor beta and bone morphogenetic proteins on rat hepatic stellate cell proliferation and trans-differentiation.
OBJECTIVE
To explore different roles of TGF-beta (transforming growth factor beta) and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in hepatic stellate cell proliferation and trans-differentiation.


METHODS
Hepatic stellate cells were isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats. Sub-cultured hepatic stellate cells were employed for cell proliferation assay with WST-1 reagent and Western blot analysis with antibody against smooth muscle alpha actin (SMA).


RESULTS
The results indicated that TGF-beta1 significantly inhibited cell proliferation at concentration as low as 0.1 ng/ml, but both BMP-2 and BMP-4 did not affect cell proliferation at concentration as high as 10 ng/ml. The effect on hepatic stellate cell trans-differentiation was similar between TGF-beta1 and BMPs. However, BMPs was more potent at trans-differentiation of hepatic stellate cells than TGF-beta1. In addition, we observed that TGF-beta1 transient reduced the abundance of SMA in hepatic stellate cells.


CONCLUSIONS
TGF-beta may be more important in regulation of hepatic stellate cell proliferation while BMPs may be the major cytokines regulating hepatic stellate cell trans-differentiation.
Shen
Hong
H
John Buhler Research Centre, 803G - 715 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3E 3P4. ygong@ms.umanitoba.ca
Huang
Guo-Jiang
GJ
Gong
Yue-Wen
YW
D000818:Animals; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*
C525720:Bmp2 protein, rat; C525811:Bmp4 protein, rat; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta