Antifibrotic effects of matrine on in vitro and in vivo models of liver fibrosis in rats

AIM: To study the antifibrotic effects of matrine in vitro and in vivo. MET HODS: Rat hepatic stellate cell HSC-T6 and mouse fibroblast cell NIH3T3 pro liferation stimulated with serum and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was measured by crystal violet staining assay. Collagen synthesis stimulate d with serum and transforming growth factor beta (1)(TGF-beta (1)) was dete rmined by [H-3]proline incorporation. Liver fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats and evaluated with plasma hyaluranic acid leve l and hepatic hydroxyproline content. RESULTS: Matrine (1 similar to 2 mmol .L-1) markedly reduced serum-driven proliferation and collagen synthesis of HSC-T6 cells as well as NIH3T3 cells. PDGF-driven proliferative activity a nd TGF-beta (1)-driven collagen synthesis in HSC-T6 cells were attenuated b y matrine (0.25 similar to 2 mmol.L-1) in a concentration-dependent manner. In vivo matrine (50 mg.kg(-1) and 100 mg.kg(-1)) significantly decreased s erum hyaluranic acid levels and hepatic hydroxyproline contents in rats tre ated with CCl4. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of PDGF and TGF-beta (1) actions on hepatic stellate cell by matrine might provide a possible mechanism of its antifibrotic activities.