title: Antiproliferative effect of salvianolic acid A on rat hepatic stellate cells.
abstract: Suppression of activation or proliferation, or induction of apoptosis in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) have been proposed as therapeutic strategies against liver fibrosis. Salvia miltiorrhiza has been reported to exert antifibrotic effects in rats with hepatic fibrosis, but its mechanisms of action remain to be clarified. We have investigated the effects of salvianolic acid A (Sal A), an active principle from S. miltiorrhiza, on the proliferation-related biomarkers in a cell line of rat HSCs (HSC-T6) stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor-BB homodimer (PDGF-BB). DNA synthesis (bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation), cell cycle related proteins and apoptosis markers were determined to evaluate the inhibitory effects of Sal A. The results showed that Sal A (1-10 microM) concentration-dependently attenuated PDGF-BB-stimulated proliferation (BrdU incorporation) in HSC-T6 cells. Sal A at 10 microM induced cell apoptosis in PDGF-BB-incubated HSCs, together with a reduction of Bcl-2 protein expression, induction of cell cycle inhibitory proteins p21 and p27, and down-regulation of cyclins D1 and E, suppression of Akt phosphorylation, reduction in PDGF receptor phosphorylation, and an increase in caspase-3 activity. Sal A exerted no direct cytotoxicity on primary hepatocytes and HSC-T6 cells under experimental concentrations. Our results suggested that Sal A inhibited PDGF-BB-activated HSC proliferation, partially through apoptosis induction.
authors.affiliation: National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yun-Lian
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ting-Fang
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yeh-Jeng
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yi-Tsau
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007773:Lactates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D002109:Caffeic Acids; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D007773:Lactates; C066201:salvianolic acid A; D053148:Caspase 3