title: Selective inhibition of activated stellate cells and protection from carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats by a new PPARgamma agonist KR62776.
abstract: Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are the primary source of extracellular matrix proteins found in liver fibrosis/cirrhosis patients. Therefore, the prevention of HSC activation is an important strategy for treating severe liver injury. This study examined the effects of KR62776, a new peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonist, on the rate of cell proliferation and expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) in rat hepatic stellate HSC-T6 cells. In addition, its effects on the liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride were investigated. KR62776 caused the apoptosis of activated HSC-T6 cells with the concomitant decrease in the alpha-smooth muscle actin levels in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. However, KR62776 did not cause the apoptosis of human HepG2 and rat McARH7777 hepatoma cells, suggesting that KR62776 has a specific effect on stellate cells. KR62776 increased the levels of Gadd45, p27, p21 and PPARgamma proteins but decreased the cell cyclerelated proteins, such as cdk2, cyclin B and cyclin D1. These changes were reversed by BADGE, a specific PPARgamma antagonist, indicating that the effects of KR62776 are, at least in part, PPARgamma-dependent. In addition, KR62776 administration showed some protection against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatocellular damage in rats. Overall, these results suggest that KR62776 may have potential in the chemoprevention of liver fibrosis/cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Drug Discovery Platform Technology Team, Medicinal Science Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejon, 305-600, Korea. mbae@krict.re.kr
authors.forename: Myung-Ae
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Sang Dal
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Won Hoon
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jin Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Byoung-Joon
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hyae Gyeong
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Cheon
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D010091:Oximes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000819:agonists* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D007189:Indans; D010091:Oximes; D047495:PPAR gamma; D020011:Protective Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C534486:KR 62776; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat