[Effect of neferine on hepatic stellate cells in collagen-I, TIMP-1 and MMP-2].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of neferine on Collagen-I, TIMP-1 and MMP-2 expressions and protein secretion of hepatic stellate cells.


METHODS
The hepatic stellate cell line HSC-T6 was cultured in vitro, and then randomly divided into 5 groups: the control group, the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) group and PDGF + neferine (2, 6, 10 micromol x L(-1)) groups. All of the groups were cultured for 48 h, and their cells were collected to extract mRNA and detect Collagen-I, TIMP-1 and MMP-2 expressions with RT-PCR. Their cell supernatants were also collected to determine the protein content of three factors with ELISA.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, PDGF could remarkably increase the Collagen-I, TIMP-1 and MMP-2 expressions and protein secretion of hepatic stellate cells. Compared with the PDGF group, PDGF + neferine (6, 10 micromol x L(-1)) groups showed a notable decrease in the Collagen-I and mRNA expression and protein secretion along with the increase in the concentration, whereas the PDGF + neferine (2 micromol x L(-1)) group showed no significant change in the Collagen-I and mRNA expression and protein secretion. Compared with the PDGF group, three PDGF + neferine groups showed no notable change in MMP-2 expression and protein secretion.


CONCLUSIONS
Neferine can inhibit the Collagen-I, TIMP-1 and mRNA protein expression and protein secretion of PDGF-induced HSCs along with the increase in the concentration, but with not remarkable effect on the MMP-2 expression and secretion.
Department of Gastroenterology, Second Hospital Affiliated to College of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China.
Xian-Mei
XM
Li
Lei
L
Dong
Hai-Tao
HT
Shi
Tian-Jiao
TJ
Gao
Miao
M
Jia
D000818:Animals; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D024042:Collagen Type I; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; C057222:neferine; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; C522363:Mmp2 protein, rat