PD98059 inhibits expression of pERK1 protein and collagen alpha1(I) mRNA in rat pancreatic stellate cells activated by platelet-derived growth factor.
OBJECTIVE
Pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) are considered as the principal effector cells in pancreatic fibrosis. We studied the role of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in the activation of PSC.


METHODS
Cultured rat PSC were co-incubated with PDGF-BB (25 ng/mL) and different doses (0-40 ng/mL) of PD98059, a specific inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Expressions of p ERK1 protein and of collagen a1(I) mRNA were measured.


RESULTS
Expression of p ERK1 protein was up-regulated by PDGF-BB, and was down-regulated in a dose-dependent manner by PD98059. Expression of collagen a1(I) mRNA also showed an increase with PDGF-BB and non-dose-dependent inhibition by PD98059.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that PSC activation is mediated by PDGF signal pathway, and ERK1 protein plays an important role in this activation.
Yuantai
Wan
W
Liver Disease Institute, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong Science and Technology University, Wuhan 430030, China. wyt9304_cn@sina.com
Tiancai
Wang
W
Qiu
Zhao
Z
D000818:Animals; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D024042:Collagen Type I; D005419:Flavonoids; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one