Effects Of Total Flavonoids Of Litchi And Rosiglitazone On Expression Of PPAR-γ And CTGF In Rat Hepatic Stellate Cells

Objective: To investigate effects of traditional Chinese medicine total flavonoids of litchi(TFL) on the proliferation of rat hepatic stellate cells(HSC-T6) in comparison with western medicine rosiglitazone, and to explore the mechanism of anti hepatic fibrosis of TFL. Methods: HSC-T6 cells were treated with various concentrations(40, 80, 160μg/mL) of TFL and 15μmol/L rosiglitazone. Effect of TFL and rosiglitazone on proliferation of HSC-T6 was examined by MTT assay. The expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ(PPAR-γ) mRNA, connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) mRNA and protein in HSC-T6 cells exposured to TFL and rosiglitazone was determined by Quantitative Real-time PCR and Westen blot. Results: It caused inhibition of HSC-T6 cells proliferation after exposure to TFL for 48 h and 72 h, and the inhibition rate was more significant when the time and dose of TFL effect was increased. Exposure to various concentrations of TFL and rosiglitazone for 72 h, inhibition rate of HSC-T6 cells were 12.53%±0.30%, 22.82%±1.24%, 30.73%±0.23%,22.47%±0.42%. There was significant difference between various concentrations of TFL groups and normal group(P < 0.05). The expression of PPAR-γ mRNA was up-regulated, and the expression of CTGF mRNA and protein was downregulated after exposured to TFL and rosiglitazone for 72 hours(P < 0.05). The ability of upregulation of PPAR-γ mRNA in TFL groups decreased significantly compared with rosiglitazone group(P < 0.05). The expression level of CTGF mRNA and protein of low concentration TFL was increased in comparison with rosiglitazone group(P < 0.05). It showed no significant difference between medium concentration TFL group and rosiglitazone group to the expression of CTGF mRNA and protein(P > 0.05). The expression level of CTGF mRNA and protein of high concentration TFL was reduced in comparison with rosiglitazone group(P < 0.05). The expression level of PPAR-γ mRNA increased of concentration, but the expression of CTGF mRNA and protein was the opposite(P < 0.05). Conclusion: TFL and rosiglitazone can inhibit the proliferation of HSC-T6 and antagonizing liver fibrosis, and the effect has dose- and time-dependent within limits. This mechanism may be associated with the upregulation of PPAR-γ expression and the downregulation of CTGF expression.