PMID: 18423155Apr 22, 2008Paper

Effect of ursolic acid on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells in vitro

Zhonghua gan zang bing za zhi = Zhonghua ganzangbing zazhi = Chinese journal of hepatology
Yue-ming ShenBi-min Li

Abstract

To investigate the effect of ursolic acid on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) in vitro and explore the mechanisms of apoptosis of HSC induced by ursolic acid by studying the expressions of apoptosis-regulating proteins Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase 3 in HSC. Hepatic stellate cells HSC-T6 and hepatocytes L02 were incubated with different concentrations of ursolic acid (25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 micromol/L) for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. The effect of ursolic acid on the cell proliferation was studied by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric assay. The rate of HSC-T6 apoptosis was identified by flow cytometry (FCM) and the morphological change of apoptosis was observed with light microscopy. The expressions of apoptosis-regulating protein Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase 3 in HSC-T6 after apoptosis induced by ursolic acid were examined by immunocytochemical staining assay. MTT analysis indicated administration of 25-150 micromol/L ursolic acid incubated with HSC-T6 for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h significantly inhibited HSC-T6 proliferation in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner compared with the control group. Promotive effect of ursolic acid on proliferation of hepatocyte L02 was observed in the 25, 50, 75 micro...Continue Reading

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