The effect of TGF-β1 and CTGF treated with β-estradiol nanoparticle and β-estradiol on activated rat hepatic stellate cells

Objective To observe whether β-estradiol nanoparticle has the same suppressive effects on HSCs proliferation as β-estradiol,and then compare their effect on the expression of mRNA and protein of TGF-β1and its downstream signaling CTGF.The anti-fibrotic mechanism of β-estradiol and β-estradiol nanoparticles is further investigated.Methods Hepatic stellate cells were treated with different concentration of β-estradiol and β-estradiol nanoparticle,then their effects on the proliferation of HSCs were detected by MTT. Hepatic stellate cells were treated with 10-8 mol/L of β-estoadiol or β-estoadiol nanoparticle for 48 h,detected by RT-PCR,then expression of TGF-β1 and CTGF mRNA and protein in hepatic stellate cells were detected by RT-PCR or Immunocytochemistry.Results The suppressive effect of β-estradiol and β-estradiol nanoparticle on the proliferation of activated HSCs were confirmed.We found that β-estradiol and β-estradiol nanoparticle down-regulate the expression of TGF-β1 and CTGF mRNA and protein.There was significant of difference between the effect of β-estradiol and β-estradiol nanoparticle.β-estradiol nanoparticle had better effect than β-estradiol.Conclusion Both β-estradiol nanoparticle and β-estradiol have anti-fibrosis function.The anti-fibrosis mechanisms of β-estradiol nanoparticle and β-estradiol may be result from the following factors: inhibiting the proliferation of HSCs,suppressing the expression of pro-fibrogenic cytokine TGF-β1 and it's downstream signaling CTGF which play an essential role in the process of hepatic fibrosis.