[Effects of pioglitazone on the morphology and the expression of connective tissue growth factor of transforming growth factor beta-induced rat hepatic stellate cells in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of pioglitazone on morphological changes and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF b)-induced rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro, and to investigate the anti-fibrotic mechanism of pioglitazone.


METHODS
Cultured rat HSCs were divided into a no-treatment control group, a TGF b-treated group, and a TGFb plus different dosage pioglitazone-treated group. The morphological changes of the cultured HSCs were observed. The expression of CTGF was assessed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. The level of collagen type III in the culture supernatant was measured by ELISA.


RESULTS
TGFb induced morphological changes, and increased the expressions of CTGF and collagen type III of the HSCs (P less than 0.05). Pioglitazone prevented the TGFb induced morphological changes of the HSCs. The expression of CTGF and the levels of collagen type III in the pioglitazone group were lower than the TGF b-treated group (P less than 0.05). This prevention effect was dose-dependent (P less than 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Pioglitazone blocks the excretion of CTGF and collagen type III of cultured HSCs, preventing the development of liver fibrosis.
Jia
Jin-bin
JB
Department of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200001, China.
Liu
Yan
Y
Chen
Wei-hua
WH
Liu
Mei
M
Lu
Lun-gen
LG
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D051381:Rats; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*
D024061:Collagen Type III; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D000077205:Pioglitazone