A Study on the Apoptosis of Rat Hepatic Stellate Cells Induced by Matrine in vitro

Objective To investigate the effect of matrine on inducing apoptosis of rat hepatic stellate cell line-99(rHSC-99) in vitro and to decipher the underlying mechanism.Methods rHSC-99 cells were treated with matrine of different concentration of 0.12,0.24 and 0.48 mg/mL for 24 h respectively.The induced apoptosis of HSC was detected by Terminal deoxynucleotidy transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL).RT-PCR and immuocytochemistry were used to detect the mRNA and protein level of NGF,p75,and Caspase-3 respectively.Results Administration of 0.12~0.48 mg/mL matrine could significantly induce rHSC-99 apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner with most cells going apoptosis in 0.48 mg/mL(P0.01).mRNA and protein expression levels of NGF,p75 and Caspase-3 in rHSC-99 cells treated with different concentration of matrine were also increased in a dose-dependent manner,with highest ones detected by the administration of 0.24 mg/mL of matrine P0.01).Conclusion Matrine can significantly induce the apoptosis of rHSC-99 cells.Activation of the NGF/p75 pathway and up-regulation of Caspase-3 expression may be one of the underlying mechanisms of rHSC-99 cell apoptosis induced by matrine.