Su SB, Jiang HX, Wang DX, Qin SY, Liang ZY. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells modulate the expression of RhoA and P27 in hepatic stellate cells.
Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2009;
17:3283-3291. [DOI:
10.11569/wcjd.v17.i32.3283]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the mRNA and protein expression of RhoA (Ras homolog gene family member A) and P27 in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and explore the mechanisms how MSCs regulate cell cycle progression of HSCs.
METHODS: MSCs were isolated from rat bone marrow and propagated in culture flasks. Meanwhile, HSCs and fibroblasts were thawed and passaged. An indirect co-culture system between MSCs/fibroblasts and HSCs was established using a Transwell membrane system (diameter: 24 mm; pore size: 0.4 μm). HSCs were randomly divided into three groups: blank control group (HSCs alone), negative control group (HSCs plus fibroblasts), and experimental group (HSCs plus MSCs). Cell proliferation was tested by WST-8 assay. Cell-cycle phases were determined by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expression of RhoA and P27 in HSCs was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively.
RESULTS: After 24 h of co-culture, the reduced rate of cell proliferation in the experimental group was significantly higher than those in the blank control group and negative control group co-culture(both P < 0.01). Flow cytometry analysis showed that, after 12 hours of co-culture, the percentage of HSCs in the G0/G1 phase in the experimental group was significantly higher than those in the two control groups (both P < 0.01), while the percentage of HSCs in the S phase in the experimental group was significantly lower than those in the two control groups (both P < 0.01). After 12 h of co-culture, the expression level of RhoA mRNA in the experimental group was significantly lower than those in the two control groups (both P < 0.01), whereas the expression level of P27 mRNA showed no significant differences between the experimental group and the two control groups (both P > 0.05). The expression level of RhoA protein in the experimental group was significantly lower than those in the two control groups (both P < 0.01), whereas the expression level of P27 in the experimental group was significantly higher than those in the two control groups (both P < 0.01). No correlation was noted between the expression of RhoA and P27 mRNAs (r = 0.105). However, a negative correlation was noted between the expression of RhoA and P27 proteins (r = -0.943, P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION: MSCs inhibit the proliferation of HSCs possibly by modulating the RhoA-P27 pathway to alter cell cycle progression of HSCs. The upregulation of P27 protein may be due to the downregulation of RhoA activity.
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