Effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells in vitro

摘要

AIM: To investigate the role of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor caffeic acid phenethyl 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.