Biological effects of extract from newborn porcine liver on hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, and hepatoma cell line

Objective: Porcine liver extract has been shown to be effective in the clinical treatment of severe hepatitis. The aim of the present study was to study its antifibrotic as well as immune regulatory effect in vitro. Methods: Hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), hepatoma cell line (HepG2) and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMNCs) were studied with respect to proliferation, extracellular matrix production and apoptotic activities by proliferation assay, radioimmunoassay, gene transfection, reporter gene analysis and flow cytometry, respectively. Results: A strong stimulatory proliferation effect was observed in hepatocytes, and an inhibitory effect was found in HSCs. Hyaluronic acid (HA) production and reporter gene activities driven by various α1(Ⅰ) procollagen gene promoters in HSC-T6 were significantly decreased after treatment with the extract. Fluo-Anexin V binding apoptotic HepG2 cells were more prominent in the presence of 60 μg/ml extract. More CD4+/CD69+ positive T lymphocytes existed in the presence of the extract. Conclusion: Porcine liver extract is effective for antifibrogenesis via hepatocyte regeneration, HSC and hepatoma cell inhibition in vitro. The elevation of active T lymphocytes is helpful for immune surveillance. Fine mapping of the extract is necessary in order to get definite molecules which are essential in all described functions.