Effect of Activin on extracelluar matrix secretion in isolated rat hepatic stellate cell

AIM: To investigate the effect of activin A on the extracelluar matrix secretion of rat hepatic stellate cell. METHODS: Hepatic stellate cells were isolated and purified from normal male Sprague-Dawley rat liver by a combination of pronase-collagenase perfusion and density gradient centrifugation. Passaged hepatic stellate cells were divided randomly into eight groups: control group(A group), ACTA 1 μg/L group (B group), ACTA 10 μg/L group(C group), ACTA 100 μg/L group (D group), TGF β1 10 μg/L group(E group), TGF β1 10 μg/L plus ACTA 1 μg/L group(F group), TGF β1 10 μg/L plus ACTA 10 μg/L group(G group), TGF β1 10 μg/L plus ACTA 100 μg/L group(H group). 24 h after incubation secretion of procollagen , collagen and mRNA of collagen in hepatic stellate cells were detected by radioimmunoassays and semi-quantitative RT-PCR method respectively. RESULTS: Extracellular matrix secretion in passaged hepatic stellate cells was enhanced by activin A according to its concentration, the capacity of extracellular matrix secretion by 100 μg/L activin A was equal to that of 10 μg/L TGF β1, extracellular matrix secretion and type collagen mRNA expression in passaged hepatic stellate cells was enhanced by activin A and TGFβ1 in a synergistic manner. CONCLUSION: Activin A may contribute to hepatic fibrogenesis. Liu QH, Li DG, Huang X, You HN, Pan Q, Xu LM, Xu QF, Lu HM. Effect of Activin on extracelluar matrix secretion in isolated rat hepatic stellate cell. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2003;11(6):745-748