Angiotensin II stimulates the synthesis of nucleic acid, protein and collagen of cultured hepatic stellate cells in rats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different doses of angiotensin II (AngII) on the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and collagen synthesis in rats. METHODS: Pronase E and collagen I were used to isolate the HSC, and 3H‐TdR,3H‐Leu and 3H‐pro incorporation methods were used to evaluate the effects of the different doses of AngII on HSC DNA, protein and proline synthesis. RESULTS: It was found that 10‐9−10−6 mol/L AngII could increase the 3H‐TdR incorporation rate of the HSC (P < 0.05), but only 10−6 mol/L and 10−7 mol/L AngII could significantly increase the 3H‐Leu incorporation rate of the HSC (P < 0.01); 10−9−10−6 mol/L AngII caused a significant increment of the 3H‐pro incorporation rate of the HSC in a dose‐dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: The appropriate dose of AngII may promote HSC proliferation and collagen synthesis.