Mt. Levy et al., Amiloride: A Na+/H+ exchanger inhibitor, ameliorates collagen production by human hepatic stellate cells, CELLS OF THE HEPATIC SINUSOID, VOL 7, 1999, pp. 198-200
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
.