title: [Effect of reduced glutathione on proliferation of rat hepatic stellate cells and the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of reduced glutathione (GSH) on the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rat HSC-T6 cell line was activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 0.1 mug/ml) and incubated with various concentrations of GSH (0, 1, 2, 5 and 10 mmol/L) for 24 h. Cell proliferation was evaluated by the MTT colorimetric assay. Collagen IV and hyaluronic acid (HA) contents were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay of cell supernatants. Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression was observed by immunohistochemistry. Nrf2 and HO-1 mRNA expression was assessed by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). HO-1 activity was analyzed by spectrophotometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GSH treatment inhibited HSC-T6 proliferation and decreased the secretion of HA and collagen IV (P less than 0.05); GSH treatment of HSC-T6 cells also led to increased expression of Nrf2 and HO-1, and increased activity of HO-1 (P less than 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GSH can inhibit the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells in vitro and reduce secretion of hyaluronic acid and collagen IV. The underlying mechanism in HSC-T6 cells may involve regulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Long-feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jing-jing
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000378:metabolism; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; C495637:Nfe2l2 protein, rat; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); C491523:Hmox1 protein, rat; D005978:Glutathione