title: Advanced glycation end products enhance the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), final reaction products of protein with sugars, are known to contribute to diabetes-related complications. We have recently demonstrated high levels of serum AGEs in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, direct evidence for the participation of AGEs in hepatic inflammation and fibrosis has not been shown. To explore the pathogenesis of NASH, we examined the biological infl uence of AGEs on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  An established human HSC line, LI90, was exposed to a glyceraldehyde-derived-AGE (glycer-AGE), and the phenotypical changes of the LI90 cells were investigated. Intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using a fl uorescent probe. Cell proliferation was examined by MTS assay. Fibrogenic marker gene expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The production of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of AGE receptor was confirmed in LI90 cells at the mRNA and protein levels. In addition to increasing intracellular ROS generation, glycer-AGE upregulated fibrogenic genes such as those encoding for alpha-smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor-beta1, and collagen type Ialpha2. The expression of MCP-1 mRNA in LI90 cells as well as its secretion into the culture medium was significantly increased in response to AGEs. These changes were attenuated by treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that AGEs induce ROS generation and intensify the proliferation and activation of HSCs, supporting the possibility that antioxidants may represent a promising treatment for prevention of the development of hepatic fibrosis in NASH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
authors.forename: Keishi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanno
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hyogo
authors.forename: Sho-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamagishi
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tazuma
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chayama
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015870:Gene Expression; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic