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| Effects of 5-hydroxytamine and its antagonists on hepatic stellate cells |
| Tao Li, Shan-Geng Weng, Xi-Sheng Leng, Ji-Run Peng, Yu-Hua Wei, Dong-Cheng Mou and Wan-Xiang Wang |
Beijing, China
Author Affiliations: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China (Li T, Weng SG, Leng XS, Peng JR, Wei YH, Mou DC and Wang WX)
Corresponding Author: Xi-Sheng Leng, MD, PhD, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China (Tel: 86-10-68792703; Fax: 86-10-68366323; Email: LengXS2003@yahoo.com.cn) |
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Abstract BACKGROUND: Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) plays a key role in hepatic fibrosis. This study was undertaken to investigate the expression of 5-hydroxytamine receptors in HSC and the effect of 5-hydroxytamine on biological characteristics of HSC.
METHODS: Liver ex vivo perfusion of collagenase and density gradient centrifugation were used to isolate HSCs. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of 5-hydroxytamine receptor subtypes 1A, 2A, 2B and 3. Western blot hybridization was used to elucidate the effect of 5-hydroxytamine and its 2A receptor antagonist ketanserin and 3-receptor antagonist ondanosetron on the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and Smad4 in HSC.
RESULTS: HSC expressed 5-hydroxytamine receptor subtypes 1A, 2A and 2B. 5-hydroxytamine significantly increased the expression of TGF-β1 and Smad4 in HSC (P<0.05). This action can be antagonized by ketanserin, not by ondanosetron.
CONCLUSIONS: HSC expresses 5-hydroxytamine receptors. 5-hydroxytamine could effect the biological characteristics of HSC through its receptor mediation, and may play a role in the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension.
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2006, Vol. 5 
