ABSTRACT
AIM:To observe the effect of plumbagin on the mRNA and protein expression of nicotinamide ade -nine dinucleotidephosphate oxidase 4 ( Nox4 ) , reactive oxygen species ( ROS ) level and protein expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the HSC-LX2 cells stimulated with transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in vitro.METH-ODS:HSC-LX2 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into blank group, model group, high-, medium-and low-dose (2, 1.5 and 1 μmol/L) plumbagin groups .After incubated with each drug for 72 h, the mRNA expression of Nox4 was detec-ted by RT-PCR.ROS levels were tested by in situ loading probe method.The protein contents of Nox4 and α-SMA were measured by Western blot .RESULTS:Compared with model group , after treated with plumbagin for 72 h, the mRNA ex-pression of Nox4, ROS level and α-SMA protein were significantly decreased in high-and medium-dose plumbagin groups (P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Plumbagin inhibits the activation of HSC-LX2 cells via decreasing the expression of Nox4, thus decreasing ROS levels .