[Effect of quercetin on the signal pathway of TGFbeta1 in activated hepatic stellate cells].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of quercetin on the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and fibronectin (FN) in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) stimulated with transforming growth factor (TGF)beta1.


METHODS
HSCs of rat were isolated by in situ perfusion and gradients centrifugation; the activated HSCs were incubated with quercetin (10(-9)-10(-5) mol/L) for 24, 48 and 72 h. TGFbeta1 was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of CTGF was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and then FN was detected by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Quercetin (10(-8) to 10(-5) mol/L) inhibited the expression of TGFbeta1 in HSCs. TGFbeta1 expression decreased after the HSCs being incubated with quercetin (10(-7) mol/L) for 48 h (mean fluorescence: 13.33+/-2.44 and 18.08+/-2.54, t=16.52, P<0.01). TGFbeta1 increased the expression of CTGF mRNA in HSCs, but this effect was abrogated by quercetin (10(-7) mol/L) within 72 h. Quercetin (10(-7) mol/L) significantly inhibited the expression of FN in HSCs.


CONCLUSIONS
Quercetin may have an inhibitory effect on the signal pathways of TGFbeta1, including the expression of TGFbeta1, FN and CTGF.
Mao
Yong-qiu
YQ
Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of Human Diseases, Ministry of Education, PR China, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Liu
Xiao-jing
XJ
Jiang
Yu
Y
Wu
Hong-bing
HB
D000818:Animals; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
C526316:CCN2 protein, rat; D005353:Fibronectins; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D011794:Quercetin