Effects of matrine on proliferation and apoptosis of rat hepatic stellate cell in vitro

Objective To investigate the effect of matrine on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cell in vitro. Methods ① HSC line rHSC-99 and hepacyte line HL-7702 were incubated seperately with matrine of different concertration of 0.125, 0.25 or 0.5 mg/ml for 24 h, cell proliferation was assessed by MTT colorimetric assay.② The ealy stage of apoptosis was detected with Annexin V-FITC/PI double labbled assay. DNA break was tested by TUNEL in situ assay. Morphology of apoptosis was studied by transmission electron microscopy. Results Administration of 0.125-0.5 mg/ml matrine could significantly inhibit HSC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner(F=14.32,P0.05) and promote hepacyte proliferation in a dose-independent manner(F=86.69, P0.05 ).After treated with matrine at different concertration of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 mg/ml for 24 h, the apoptosis rate were 5.00%±0.98%、13.6%±2.9%、17.2%±2.17%, respectively, which is significantly higher than that of control group(0.99%±0.45, F=64.14 ,P0.05).DNA break of matrine-treated cells was demonstrated by TUNEL in situ assay. Electron microscopy showed that nucleoli disappeared, chromatin condensed, arranged along side the nuclear membrane.Conclusion Matrine can inhibit HSC proliferation and induce apoptosis of HSC,which might be one of the mechanisms of matrine to counteract against liver fibrosis.