Amiloride: A Na+/H+ exchanger inhibitor, ameliorates collagen production by human hepatic stellate cells

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are almost exclusively responsible for the cha racteristic increased extracellular matrix of cirrhosis. Amiloride, an inhi bitor of the plasma membrane Na+/H(+)exchanger, has been shown to inhibit H SC proliferation (1) and ameliorate the development of experimental rat cir rhosis (2). This paper describes the effect of amiloride on collagen protein production by HSCs in culture. Amiloride reduced colla gen protein production and abo lished the TGF-beta induced increase in collagen production. There was no e ffect on collagen alpha 2(1) mRNA at the doses that affect collagen protein .