L-cysteine administration prevents liver fibrosis by suppressing hepatic stellate cell proliferation and activation.
Recent studies showed that the function of some amino acids is not only nutritional but also pharmacological. However, the effects of amino acids on liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) remain unclear. In this research, as a result of screening of amino acids using liver fibrosis induced by DMN administration, L-cysteine was selected as a suppressor of liver fibrosis. Furthermore, the number of activated HSCs, which increased in the fibrotic liver after DMN administration, was decreased in L-cysteine-fed rats. Treatment of freshly isolated HSCs with L-cysteine resulted in inhibition of the increase in smooth muscle alpha-actin (alphaSMA) expression by HSCs and BrdU incorporation into the activated HSCs. These findings suggest that L-cysteine is effective against liver fibrosis. The mechanism of inhibition of fibrosis in the liver is surmized to be direct inhibition of activated HSC proliferation and HSC transformation by L-cysteine.
Pharmaceuticals Research Laboratories, Ajinomoto Co, Inc, 1-1, Suzuki-cho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-8681, Japan.
Takashi
T
Horie
Isao
I
Sakaida
Fumihiko
F
Yokoya
Megumi
M
Nakajo
Ichiro
I
Sonaka
Kiwamu
K
Okita
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003545:Cysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D015415:Biomarkers; D003545:Cysteine; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine