The effect of PD98059 on proliferation and type I collagen expression of hepatic stellate cell stimulated by carbon tetrachloride in vitro

OBJECTIVE To find out the effect of specific MEK inhibitor on proliferation and type I collagen expression of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) stimulated by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) in vitro. METHODS Hepatic stellate cell lines incubated in 37℃ , 5% carbon dioxide incubation box were divided into three groups: the control group, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) group and CCl4 plus different dose PD98059 (20, 50, 100 μ mol/L) groups. The ultrastructure was observed with transmission electron microscope, cell proliferation was assessed by MTT colorimetric assay and type I collagen fiber expression was determined by immunocytochemistry method. RESULTS Transmission electron microscopy showed that apoptotic cells in PD98059 group were increased obviously, the number was less than that in CCl4 group and the number of cells was reduced after the inhibitor PD98058 treatment. After the HSC was stimulated by CCl4 , cells proliferated obviously (P﹤0.05), different doses of PD98059 had inhibitory effects on the cell proliferation (P﹤0.05) and the inhibition rates were 21.84% , 38.27% and 46.65% respectively. Compared with the control group, expression of type I collagen in CCl4 group increased obviously (P﹤0.05), while PD98059 inhibited the expression of type I collagen (P﹤0.05). CONCLUSION PD98059 has inhibition effect on the proliferation and expression of type I collagen in hepatic stellate cell stimulated by CCl4 .