title: Curcumin regulates delta-like homolog 1 expression in activated hepatic stellate cell.
abstract: Hepatic stellate cell activation is a key cellular event in the development of liver fibrosis. Recently, Delta-like homolog 1 (DLK1) protein level has been shown to increase in HSC activation and serve as a new contributor to HSC activation and liver fibrosis. Curcumin, a natural yellow polyphenol, possesses therapeutic roles in many diseases including liver fibrosis and has long been used in traditional medicine. The present study was aimed to elucidate the effect of curcumin on DLK1 expression in HSCs in vitro and in vivo, which is still unknown. Our results demonstrated that curcumin reduced DLK1 expression in culture-activated HSCs and in rat model of liver fibrosis. The inhibitory effect of curcumin on DLK1 expression may be mediated in part by interruption of Shh signaling pathway, which contributes to the promotion effect of curcumin on the expression of PPAR-gamma, a key factor in inhibiting HSC activation. Our results in this study may reveal a new mechanisms through which curcumin exerts its inhibitory effect on HSC activation and liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Jianwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Medical College, Nantong University, Qi Xiou Road 19, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Medical College, Nantong University, Qi Xiou Road 19, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Xuguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Medical College, Nantong University, Qi Xiou Road 19, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Medical College, Nantong University, Qi Xiou Road 19, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China. Electronic address: zhouyajun64@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yajun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013853:Thioacetamide / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; C512923:Dlk1 protein, rat; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D013853:Thioacetamide; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Curcumin; Delta-like homolog 1; Hepatic stellate cell; Liver fibrosis; Sonic Hedgehog