Abstract:

[Abstract]   Objective   To studythe role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the effect of SB203580on proliferation and
apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells and the effects of H2S on expressions of collagen Ⅰand collagen Ⅲ mRNA in hepatic stel-late cells.  Methods   There were five groups of HSC-T6cells in this study includingcontrol group (DMEM medium containing10% fetal bovine serum), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group, sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS）group，SB203580(SB）group and SB + NaHS group. MTT method was used to detect the cell proliferation and inhibition rate of HSC- T6cells treated by SB203580and H2S. The apoptotic rate of HSC- T6cells was detected by flow cytometry with annexin V- FITC/PI double staining. RT-PCR was used to detect the expressions of collagen Ⅰand collagen Ⅲ mRNA in HSC-T6.   Results   The apoptotic rate of HSC-T6cells was significantly higher in SB group and SB+NaHS group than that of control group, and the rate was significantly higher in SB+NaHS group than that of SB group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the apoptotic rate of HSC-T6cells between DMSO and NaHS groups than that of control group. The expressions of collagenⅠand collagen Ⅲ mRNA were found in five groups of cells. There was a higher expression of collagen Ⅰand collagen Ⅲ mRNA in NaHS group than that of control group (P<0.05). The expressions of collagen Ⅰand collagen Ⅲ mRNA were significantly lower in SB group and SB+NaHS group than those of control group and NaHS group (P<0.05).   Conclusion     H2S activated P38MAPK signal pathway. And P38MAPK was specifically blocked by SB203580in HSC-T6cells, which inhibited the cell proliferation stimulated by H2S and promoted the apoptosis.

Key words: hydrogen sulfide, cell proliferation, apoptosis, p38mitogen-activated protein kinases, hepatic stellate cell, SB203580