Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of octreotide  (OCT) on gene and protein expressions of collagen Ⅰ，collagen Ⅲ and  matrix matrixmetlloproteinases 2 (MMP-2)in hepatic stellate cells（HSC） in vitro，and to clarify the mechanism of its anti-hepatic fibrosis.Methods  A rat hepatic stellate cell line,rHSC-99,was treated with OCT.Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT colorimetric assay.The contents of  collagen Ⅰ，Ⅲ were examined by ELISA；RT-PCR was used to detect mRNA expressions of MMP-2,collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ.Results Compared with control group,OCT significantly inhibited rHSC-99 proliferation in vitro (P<0.05),the inhibitiory rate of cell proliferation was increased with the elevation of the OCT in a certain dose range (1-8 μg?L-1).Compared with control group,the concentrations of collagen  Ⅰ,Ⅲ in OCT groups were reduced  significantly,the difference was significant (P<0.05);and the  mRNA expressions of collagen Ⅰ and Ⅲ  were also decreased (P<0.05).Compared with control group,MMP-2 mRNA was highly expressed in OCT groups (P<0.05).Conclusion OCT could inhibit the proliferation of HSC,down-regulate the expressions of collagen Ⅰ and  Ⅲ mRNA and protein，and up-regulate the expression of MMP-2 mRNA.All of these biological effects of OCT on HSC are associated with recovery from liver fibrosis.

Key words: octreotide；liver fibrosis；hepatic stellate cells；proliferation；collagen；matrix matrismetlloproteinases , 2