title: [Effects of CCN5 overexpression on the expression of alpha-SMA and collagen I in hepatic stellate cells and its mechanism].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between connective tissue growth factor (CCN5) and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation as well as the mechanism of action.
  
  
  METHODS
  As the research object, LX-2 cells were stimulated with transforming growth factor-beta1 ( TGF-(beta1), and the protein expression levels of CCN5 and CCN2 were determined by Western blot; Hepatocyte high expression system of CCN5 was constructed and transfected hepatic stellate cells (HSC) to make CCN5 overexpression; The expression levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and collagen I were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. To further study its mechanism of action, Smad2 and phosphorylation level of Smad2 were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Under normal circumstances, CCN2 expression levels were much higher than CCN5 in LX-2 cells, while CCN2 expression was significantly higher than CCN5 if LX-2 cells were stimulated by TGF-beta1. However, there was no change for CCN5. Compared with the control group and the vector group, CCN5 was successfully overexpressed in the transfection group, and mRNA and protein levels of alpha-SMA and collagen I were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, phosphorylation level of Smad2 was also significantly decreased (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CCN5, which has the function that inhibits HSC activation, has the opposite role compared with CCN2, therefore, a new idea was proposed for the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Shaanxi Energy Institute, Xi'an 710613, China. chengyan116@126.com
authors.forename: Cheng-Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: The Fourth Hospital of Xi'an, Xi'an 710004, China.
authors.forename: Deng-Sheng
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Xi'an Aerospace General Hospital, Xi'an 710100, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Xi
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D055511:CCN Intercellular Signaling Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D055511:CCN Intercellular Signaling Proteins; C526317:CCN2 protein, human; C413323:CCN5 protein, human; D024042:Collagen Type I; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C497782:SMAD2 protein, human; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor