Effects of Cyanidin‐3‐O‐glucoside on Synthetic and Metabolic Activity of Ethanol Stimulated Human Pancreatic Stellate Cells

Activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) play a major role in the development of chronic pancreatitis. Flavonoids (C‐3‐O‐G) theoretically may have potential to suppress activated PSC. The aim of our study was to determine the ability of C‐3‐O‐G to invert synthetic and metabolic activity of alcohol stimulated human pancreatic stellate cells (hPSC). In the present study we demonstrate that treatment with C‐3‐O‐G decreased proliferation rate of ethanol activated hPSC by 51%. Synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins in activated hPSC was markedly inhibited, as shown by reduced levels of collagen I and fibronectin expression. The decrease of secretion of fibronectin by 33% and in collagen I‐25% in ethanol activated and C‐3‐O‐G treated hPSC was observed. Moreover, treatment of ethanol activated hPSC with C‐3‐O‐G resulted in the decrease of oxygen consumption rate by 44% and reduced levels of ATP synthesis (i.e. energy production) by 41%. Hence, the effects of C‐3‐O‐G on ethanol activated hPSC may provide new insights for the use of anthocyanins as anti‐fibrogenic agents in treatment and/or prevention of pancreatic fibrosis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.