• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.425-433
• /
• 2023

During liver injury, hepatic stellate cells can differentiate into myofibroblast-like structures, which are more susceptible to proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix generation, leading to liver fibrosis. Anaerobic glycolysis is associated with activated stellate cells and glyceraldehyde (GA) is an inhibitor of glucose metabolism. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-fibrotic effects of GA in human stellate LX-2 cells. In this study, we used cell viability, morphological analysis, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), western blotting, and qRT-PCR techniques to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-fibrotic effects of GA in LX-2 cells. The results showed that GA significantly reduced cell density and inhibited cell proliferation and lactate levels in LX-2 cells but not in Hep-G2 cells. We found that GA prominently increased the activation of caspase-3/9 for apoptosis induction, and a pan-caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-fmk, attenuated the cell death and apoptosis effects of GA, suggesting caspase-dependent cell death. Moreover, GA strongly elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and notably increased the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK. Interestingly, it dramatically reduced α-SMA and collagen type I protein and mRNA expression levels in LX-2 cells. Thus, inhibition of ERK and JNK activation significantly rescued GA-induced cell growth suppression and apoptosis in LX-2 cells. Collectively, the current study provides important information demonstrating the anti-fibrotic effects of GA, a glycolytic metabolite, and demonstrates the therapeutic potency of metabolic factors in liver fibrosis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.519-529
• /
• 2011

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the effects of Injinchunggan-tang on cell growth and apoptosis in human hepatic stellate cell line LX2. Materials and Methods : Hepatic stellate cells were treated with various concentrations of Injinchunggan-tang extract for 24, 48 and 72 hours. The extraction was done with distilled water. After the treatment, cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, caspase activity, caspase inhibitor and the mRNA of the Bcl-2, and Bax with ${\beta}$-actin were measured by using MTT assay, apoptosis assay and RT-PCR. Results : Proliferation, and mRNA expression of the hepatic stellate cells were inhibited by Injinchunggan-tang treatment in a dose-dependent manner. This indicates the prescription has inhibitory effect on fibrogenesis of the liver by regulating the fibrogenesis-associated genes in transcription. Cell viability was inhibited in time- and dose-dependent manners. Conclusions : These results suggest that Injinchunggan-tang would be beneficial in the treatment of cirrhotic patients as well as for the patients with chronic hepatitis.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.29 no.9
• /
• pp.762-767
• /
• 2006

Danshen is an herbal medication frequently used in oriental medicine to treat liver or kidney malfunction. In the course of our studies, we observed that compounds purified from Danshen exhibit an inhibitory activity against Discoidin Domain Receptor 2 (DDR2) tyrosine kinase. Through this inhibition, these compounds also inhibited the growth of HSC T6 cells and suppressed the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin and MMP2, as well as collagen synthesis, all of which are increased in activated liver stellate cells. Given that activation of liver stellate cells is the hallmark of liver fibrosis and that DDR2 plays a critical role in this activation, these results suggest that one of the pharmacological activities of Danshen extract that protects the liver is the inhibition of key cell-signaling kinases, such as DDR2, in liver stellate cells.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.176.1-176.1
• /
• 2003

The protective effects on hepatic fibrosis of an aqueous extract from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC (Campanulaceae), Changkil (CK), in hepatic stellate cell line, CFSC-2G. The increased deposition of extracellular matrix by hepatic stellate cells following liver injury in a process known as activation is considered a key mechanism for increased collagen content of liver during the development of liver fibrosis. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.10b
• /
• pp.142.2-142.2
• /
• 2003

The activation of the hepatic stellate cell (HSC) is a key step in liver fibrogenesis. We investigated the changes of global gene expression during activation in hepatic stellate cells using a rat cDNA microarray with 5, 000 sequence-verified clones. We identified osteopontin (OPN), a secreted matrix protein, as one of the upregulated factors. Northern analysis showed OPN mRNA was increasingly expressed during progressive activation of cultured rat HSCs and in models of experimental liver fibrosis. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.10b
• /
• pp.103.3-104
• /
• 2003

Activation of hepatic stellate cell has been identified as a critical step in hepatic fibrogenesis and is regulated by several factors including cytokines and oxidative stress. In this study, we assayed effects of saponin (CKS), inulin (CKI) and oligo-sugars (CKO) isolated from Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC, changkil (CK) on experimental cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in hepatic stellate cell line (HSC-T6). CKS induced cell arrest at G$_1$. CKS also reduced intercellular reactive oxygen species and collagen synthesis in hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress and acetaldehyde-stimulated collagen synthesis, respectively, in HSC-T6 cells. (omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.331-335
• /
• 1995

Asthma is a disease of the airways that is characterized by increased responsiveness of the tracheobronchial tree to a multiplicity of stimuli. A number of causes have been postulated for the increased airway reactivity of asthma is conservative as beta-adrenergic agonist, methylxanthines, glucocorticoids, anticholinergics and mast cell stabilizing agent. Stellate ganglion block for the treatment of bronchial asthma has its controversies. Stellate ganglion block was performed for the treatment of 3 patients with bronchial asthma. After stellate ganglion blocks, dyspnea, coughing and wheezing was markedly reduced. Lung function test improved with 1 st case. Two asthma cases were able to discontinue medication for asthma. No severe aggrevation of bronchial symptoms were noted after stellate ganglion blocks. It suggested that stellate ganglion block can be safely performed on bronchial asthmatic patients.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
• /
• 2003.10b
• /
• pp.167-167
• /
• 2003

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and the derived myofibroblasts are known to playa central role in liver fibrosis. Rhus verniciflua Strokes (RVS) has traditionally been used in Korea herbal medicine for a stomachic tonic. In this study, we observed the effect of RVS acetone extract (Ra) on the proliferation, the collagen synthesis, and hepatic fibrosis related proteins mRNA levels in HSC-T6 cells which is a fully acivated rat hepatic stellate cell line.(omitted)

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.863-870
• /
• 2008

The aim of this study was to investigate that Injinoryung-san-Ga-Samchilgun(IJORS) has an inhibitory effect on the development of liver fibrosis in rats. The influence of IJORS on liver stellate cell viability in rat was measured by the MTT assay, and proliferation was measured by the BrdU assay. The mRNA expression of procollagen type $1{\alpha}2$, ${\alpha}-SMA$, TIMP1, and TIMP2 all of which are associated with liver fibrosis, were analyzed by RT-PCR. The inhibitory effect of IJORS on procollagen production in hepatic stellate cell was examined using by enzyme immuno assay(procollagen Type 1 C-Peptide EIA). And after IJORS was orally administered to experimental rats with thioacetamide(TAA)-induced liver fibrosis for 4 weeks, the body weight, liver function test, complete blood and the change of portal pressure were measured. IJORS prevented hepatic stellate cell viability and proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. IJORS reduced the mRNA expression of procollagen type $1{\alpha}2$, ${\alpha}-SMA$ and TIMP1 and the production of procollagen protein. IJORS inhibited the increase of AST, ALT, WBC and portal pressure in rats administered by TAA. IJORS is considered to prevent liver fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of stellate cell and production of procollagen and prevent the progress of liver fibrosis by inhibiting the inflammation of liver tissue complicated in many liver disease.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.504-518
• /
• 2011

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the anti-fibrogenic effect of greater celandine on cultured rat hepatic stellate cells. Materials and Methods : Hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6) were treated with various concentrations of greater celandine extract for 24, 48, and 72 hours. The extraction was done with distilled water. After the treatment, cell viability, proliferation, mRNA of the ${\alpha}SMA$, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, collagen I ${\alpha}$ 1, MMP-2, IL-6, TGF-${\beta}1$, PDGFr-${\beta}1$, Bcl-2, Bax, Bcl-xl, caspase-3, caspase-9 and the activities of SOD and catalase were measured by using MTT assay, BrdU assay, real-time PCR, superoxide dismutase assay and catalase assay. Results : The viability, proliferation, mRNA expression and synthesis of collagen of the hepatic stellate cells were inhibited as the concentration increased, which indicates the herb has an inhibitory effect on fibrogenesis of the liver by regulating the fibrosis associated genes in transcription. Conclusions : These results suggest that greater celandine would be beneficial in the treatment of fibrotic patients as well as for patients with chronic hepatitis.