Published online Sep 15, 2000. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v6.iSuppl3.70
Revised: June 10, 2000
Accepted: July 10, 2000
Published online: September 15, 2000
AIM: To investigate the effects of sinusoidal endothelial cell (SEC) conditioned medium on the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC).
METHODS: By in situ collagenase perfusion and two-step Percoll gradient centrifugation, SECs were isolated and cultured from normally and CCl4 treated Wistar rats, and the SEC conditioned media were collected. HSCs were prepared from Wistar rats by in situ perfusion and single step Nycodenzgradient, and were cultured with SEC conditioned media. Expression of CTGF in HSC was assessed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
RESULTS: Expression of CTGF was not found in freshly isolated HSC and in primary culture of HSC on day 4 with SEC conditioned media from normal rats, but was present in primary culture of HSC on day 4 with SEC conditioned media from CCl4 induced liver fibrosis rats. Expression of CTGF was observed in culture-activated HSCs, and the effect of SEC conditioned media from CCl4 induced liver fibrosis rats on the expression of CTGF gene in activated HSCs was not significant.
CONCLUSION: Expression of CTGF might be relative to the activation of HSC and the liver fibrogenesis, and damaged SECs play a very important role in the early stage of activation of HSC.