Basic Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2002. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 15, 2002; 8(4): 739-745
Published online Aug 15, 2002. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v8.i4.739
Effects of the tyrosine protein kinase inhibitor genistein on the proliferation, activation of cultured rat hepatic stellate cells
Xiao-Jing Liu, Li Yang, Yong-Qiu Mao, Qiong Wang, Ming-Hui Huang, Yi-Ping Wang, Hong-Bin Wu
Xiao-Jing Liu, Ming-Hui Huang, Laboratory of Department of Internal Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Li Yang, Qiong Wang, Yi-Ping Wang, Department of Gastroenterology of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Yong-Qiu Mao, Center for Cancer Biotherapy of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Hong-Bin Wu, Laboratory of Department of Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.39800054
Correspondence to: Xiao-Jing Liu, Laboratory of Department of Internal Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Wainan Guoxueshang, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. xiaojingliu67@hotmail.com
Received: January 25, 2002
Revised: March 1, 2002
Accepted: March 5, 2002
Published online: August 15, 2002
Abstract

AIM: Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) plays a pivotal role in liver fibrosis and is considered as the therapeutic target for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis. Tyrosine protein kinase plays an important role in the proliferation, activation of HSC. The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of the tyrosine protein kinase inhibitor genistein on the proliferation and activation of cultured rat HSC.

METHODS: Rat HSC were isolated from Wistar rats by in situ perfusion of collagenase and pronase and single-step density Nycodenz gradient. Culture-activated HSC were serum-starved and incubated with 10-9 to 10-5 mol/L concentration of genistein for 24, 48 or 72 h. In PDGF-induced HSC proliferation, HSC were stimulated with 10 μg·L-1 PDGF-BB for 15 min, and then treated with genistein for the same time. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay and based on flow cytometric analysis of cell cycle. The α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in HSC was studied with confocal laser microscopy and flow cytometry. c-fos, c-jun and cyclin D1 expression in HSC was also detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: Genistein inhibited basal and PDGF-induced proliferation of HSC at the concentration of 10-8 to 10-5 mol/L, and treatment with 10-7 mol/L concentration of genistein for 48 h inhibited the HSC proliferation significantly (the inhibition rate was 70.3%, P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence detected by confocal laser microscopy and flow cytometry showed that treatment with 10-7 mol/L genistein for 48 h suppressed the expression of α-SMA significantly in HSC (the specific fluorescence intensity were 60.2 ± 21.5 vs 35.3 ± 11.6 and 12.8 ± 10.4 vs 9.54 ± 6.39, respectively, both P < 0.05). The intensity of c-fos, c-jun and cyclin D1 expression of HSCs treated with 10-7 mol/L genistein for 48 h was also significantly decreased compared with the controls.

CONCLUSION: Genistein influences proliferation of HSC, suppresses the expression of α-SMA in HSC and t inhibits the intensity of c-fos, c-jun and cyclin D1 expression of HSCs. Genistein has therapeutic potential against liver fibrosis.

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