Suppressive effects of YiGanKang, a combination of Chinese herbs, on collagen synthesis in hepatic stellate cell

Background/Aim

Clinical practice and animal research demonstrated that YiGanKang, a combination of Chinese herbs, has anti-fibrosis effects in chronic liver diseases. However, the mechanism is not clear. The present study is to investigate the inhibiting mechanism of YiGanKang on collagen type I synthesis induced by Interleukin-1β(IL-1 β) in rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Methods

Cultured rat HSCs were divided into 4 groups, control, IL-1β treated group, IL-1β + YiGanKang group and IL-1β + SB203580 (the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor) treated group. The expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), was evaluated by Western blot, collagen type I synthesis was examined by ³H-Pro incorporation.

Results

Type I collagen synthesis in HSCs increased significantly under the stimulation of IL-1β for 24 h, YiGanKang could inhibit p38 expression and type I collagen synthesis, SB203580, a p38 inhibitor, can significantly reduce type I collagen synthesis.

Conclusion

IL-1β could stimulate the synthesis of type I collagen in rat HSCs, p38 mediate signal pathway between IL-1β and was type I collagen production. YiGanKang inhibits HSCs collagen synthesis induced by IL-1β via p38 inhibition.