Influence of serum collected from rat perfused with compound Biejiaruangan drug on hepatic stellate cells.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of compound Biejiaruangan decoction (CBJRGC) (composite prescription of Carapax trionycis for softening the liver) on proliferation, activation, excretion of collagen and cytokine of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and to find the mechanism of prevention and treatment of hepatic fibrosis by CBJRGC.


METHODS
Using MTT, immunohistochemistry and image analysis technology, the related indexes for proliferation, activation, excretion of collagen and cytokine of hepatic stellate cells were detected in 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after administration of different dosages of CBJRGC.


RESULTS
Statistical analysis showed that serum collected from rat perfused with CBJRGC could restrain the proliferation of HSC in 48 h and 72 h especially in high and medium dosage groups, markedly decrease the expression of desmin, synapsin and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) in HSC in 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, as well as the expression of alpha-SMA, collagen III, TIMP and TGFbeta1 in 48 h and 72 h, decrease the excretion of collagen I in 72 h. CBJRGC serum had no significant effect on collagens I, III and TIMP in 24 h.


CONCLUSIONS
CBJRGC serum has a good curative effect on hepatic fibrosis. Its main mechanism may be related to the following factors. The drug serum can restrain the proliferation and activation of HSC, decrease the number of activated HSC and the total number of HSC, the excretion of collagens I, III, enhance the degradation of collagen and restore the balance of synthesis and degradation of collagen, inhibit the expression of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFalpha1) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) in HSC, block and delay the process of hepatic fibrosis. Synapsin is a new marker of activation of HSC, which provides a theoretical and testing basis for neural regulation in the developing process of hepatic fibrosis.
Guo
Shun-Gen
SG
Laboratory of Cell and Biochemistry, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. guoshungen@sina.com
Zhang
Wei
W
Jiang
Tao
T
Dai
Min
M
Zhang
Lu-Fen
LF
Meng
Yi-Chun
YC
Zhao
Li-Yun
LY
Niu
Jian-Zhao
JZ
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D003893:Desmin / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044967:Serum / Q000737:chemistry*; D016704:Synapsins / Q000378:metabolism; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins; D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D003893:Desmin; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016704:Synapsins; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases