目的:观察姜黄素衍生物(Curc-OEG)抑制原代肝星状细胞(HSC)增殖、活化以及诱导其凋亡的作用,探讨其可能的作用机制。方法:采用IV型胶原酶、DNA酶消化SD雄性大鼠肝脏,percoll梯度离心得到纯化的肝星状细胞。细胞分离后1d分别加入0、6.25、12.5μg/mL的姜黄素衍生物,作用7d后用RT-PCR及Western blot检测细胞α-SMA、TGF-β1、Smad2的mRNA水平和蛋白表达量。活化的肝星状细胞在第14天分别加入0、6.25、12.5、25、50、75μg/mL的姜黄素衍生物,作用24h后RT-PCR检测凋亡基因Bax、Bcl-2的mRNA水平和纤维化相关基因TGF-β1、collagen I、NF-κB及TIMP-1的mRNA水平。结果:药物作用7d后,6.25μg/mL和12.5μg/mL浓度药物处理组与对照组相比,细胞数目分别减少了56%和86%。在12.5μg/mL浓度药物作用下,原代肝星状细胞α-SMA、TGF-β1及Smad2的mRNA表达水平分别下调83%、85%及75%,蛋白表达水平分别下调94%、92%及73%(P〈0.05)。25μg/mL浓度药物作用24h后,细胞凋亡明显。在50μg/mL浓度药物作用下,活化的肝星状细胞Bax的mRNA表达水平上调约2.3倍,Bcl-2的mRNA表达水平下调约5.6倍;TGF-β1、collagen I、NF-κB及TIMP-1的mRNA表达水平分别下调90%、83%、74%、65%(P〈0.05)。结论:姜黄素衍生物可以明显抑制原代肝星状细胞的增殖和活化,促进活化的肝星状细胞凋亡及减少细胞外基质的沉积。
AIM:To investigate the effects and mechanisms of Curc-OEG on the proliferation,activation and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells(HSCs). METHODS:The HSCs were isolated from male SD rats by collagenase IV and DNase digestion of liver,and further purified by percoll gradient centrifugation.Freshly isolated cells at day 2 were treated with Curc-OEG at concentrations of 0,6.25 and 12.5μg/mL for 7days.The expression ofα-SMA,TGF-β1 and Smad2 was confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blot.Activated HSCs at day 14 were treated with Curc-OEG at concentrations of 0,6.25,12.5,25,50 and 75μg/mL for 24 h.The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 and other genes associated with fibrogenesis including TGF-β1,collagen I,NF-κB and TIMP-1 was observed with RT-PCR.RESULTS:After 7days cultivation,Curc-OEG caused a significant concentration-dependent reduction in cell numbers of 56% and 86%a t 6.25 and 12.5μg/mL respectively compared with the control.At 12.5μg/mL,CurcOEG reducedα-SMA,TGF-β1 and Smad2 mRNA levels by 83%,85% and 75%,and protein levels by 94%,92% and 73%,respectively(P〈0.05).Cell apoptosis was significantly increased at a concentration of 25μg/mL CurcOEG.At 50 μg/mL,Curc-OEG significantly upregulated the mRNA levels of the proapoptotic Bax by 2.3-fold,downregulated the antiapoptotic Bcl-2,TGF-β1,collagen I,NF-κB and TIMP-1 by 5.6-fold,90%,83%,74% and 65%,respectively(P〈0.05).CONCLUSION:Curc-OEG not only significantly inhibited the proliferation and activation of primary HSCs,but also induced apoptosis of activated HSCs and reduced ECM accumulation.