title: Effects of tetrandrine and verapamil on fibroblastic growth and proliferation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of tetrandrine (Tet) and verapamil (Ver) on liver fibrosis by evaluating their effects on the growth and proliferation of fibroblasts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Flow cytometry and imaging analysis were used to study the effects of combined and individual treatment of Tet and Ver on fibroblastic proliferation in vitro. Untreated control cells were used for comparison.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to untreated fibroblasts, those treated with both Tet and Ver showed higher percentages of cells in the G1 and G2+M phase in the cell cycle of 3T6 fibroblasts (P < 0.01) and markedly elevated protein content, while those treated with Tet only showed significantly lower intracellular RNA content (1.5-2.0 μg, P < 0.01) and those treated with Ver only showed lower intracellular DNA content (15-20 μg, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inhibitory action of Tet and Ver on fibroblastic growth and proliferation might be responsible for the antifibrotic effects of these medications in liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Xue-Song Liu, Ding-Guo Li, Han-Ming Lu, Qin-Fang Wu, Research Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: X S
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Xue-Song Liu, Ding-Guo Li, Han-Ming Lu, Qin-Fang Wu, Research Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Xue-Song Liu, Ding-Guo Li, Han-Ming Lu, Qin-Fang Wu, Research Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Xue-Song Liu, Ding-Guo Li, Han-Ming Lu, Qin-Fang Wu, Research Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: Q F
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Wu
keywords: Fibroblasts/drug effects; Liver cirrhosis/drug therapy; Tetrandrine/pharmacology; Verapamil/pharmacology