Published online Jun 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i6.1278
Revised: January 4, 2003
Accepted: January 8, 2003
Published online: June 15, 2003
AIM: To investigate the role of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor caffeic acid phenethy1 ester (CAPE) in the proliferation, collagen synthesis and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) of rats.
METHODS: The HSCs from rats were isolated and cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) and treated with CAPE. The proliferation and collagen synthesis of HSCs were determined by 3H-TdR and 3H-proline incorporation respectively, and the expression of type I, III procollagen genes was further explored by in situ hybridization. Apoptosis cell indices (AIs) were examined using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase- mediated DIG-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL).
RESULTS: In activated HSC in culture, CAPE significantly inhibited 3H-TdR and 3H-proline incorporation by HSCs at concentrations of 5 μmol/L and 10 μmol/L respectively. CAPE also reduced the type I procollagen gene expression (P < 0.05) at higher concentration. Apoptosis of HSC was induced by CAPE and the AIs were time-and dose-dependently increased from 2.82% ± 0.73% to 7.66% ± 1.25% at 12 h (P < 0.01) and from 3.15% ± 0.88% to 10.61% ± 2.88% at 24 h (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION: CAPE inhibits proliferation and collagen synthesis of HSC at lower concentration and induces HSC apoptosis at higher concentration.