title: Complement 5a stimulates hepatic stellate cells in vitro, and is increased in the plasma of patients with chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: Complement 5a (C5a) is a critical modulator of liver immunity. In this study, we investigated the role of C5a and its receptor in liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis B virus infection. We found that plasma C5a concentration was significantly increased in patients with chronic hepatitis B, particularly in those patients with higher grade and stage scores. Further analysis indicated that the increased C5a concentration was positively correlated with clinical parameters reflecting liver fibrosis severity, including type IV collagen and procollagen type III N-terminal peptide. Our in vitro data indicated that the C5a receptor is highly expressed in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Addition of C5a significantly activated HSCs and up-regulated α-smooth muscle actin, hyaluronic acid and type IV collagen expression. Also, addition of C5a could inhibit the spontaneous and soluble tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-induced apoptosis of HSCs. These findings highlight the potential role of C5a in the regulation of liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Biological Therapy, The Institute of Translational Hepatology, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ruonan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Ji-Yuan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Junliang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Honghong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Siyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Fu-Sheng
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015936:Complement C5a / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044087:Receptor, Anaphylatoxin C5a; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C488033:C5AR1 protein, human; D044087:Receptor, Anaphylatoxin C5a; D011951:Receptors, Complement; D015936:Complement C5a