The Effect of Estradiol on the Expression of TGF- β1、CTGF in rat Hepatic Stellate Cells

Objective To analyze the effect of estradiol on the function of hepatic stellate cells.MethodsFirst the cultured hepatic stellate cells were randomly divided into 4 groupes and different concentrationsof estradiol were added to the cell groupes ,after 72 hours incubation,then their effect on the proliferationand the expression of TGF-β1 and CTGF mRNA,α-SMA protein of HSCs were detected by MTT assay, RT-PCR andImmunocytochemistry,respectively. Results The effect of estradiol on the proliferation and actiation ofactivated HSCs was confirmed ;We also found that the effect of estradiol down-regulated the expression ofTGF-β1 and CTGF mRNA in mRNA level detected by RT-PCR;There were in the dose-dependent manner,thedifference was significant(P 0.05). Conclusion Estradiol has anti-fibrosis function. This mayberesults from inhibiting the following factors:①they inhibit the proliferation and actiation of activatedHSCs;②they suppresse the expression of pro-fibrogenic cytokine TGF-β and is'downstream signaling CTGF,which play an essential role in the process of hepatic fibrosis.