ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of beta-catenin on the activation of hepatic fibrosis by transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGFbeta1).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The recombinant expression plasmids pcDNA3.1(+)-beta-catenin and pEGFP-N1 were cotransfected into cultured HSC-T6 cells. The expression of smad3, beta-catenin and alpha-SMA, beta-catenin protein in TGFbeta1 treated HSC-T6 cells were detected by RT-PCR and Western-blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of smad3 and beta-catenin in the co-transfected cells was higher than that in the untransfected cells (smad3 mRNA were 0.642 +/- 0.011, 0.501 +/- 0.021, 0.511 +/- 0.019, 0.356 +/- 0.017, respectively, F = 135.304, P < than 0.05. beta-catenin mRNA were 0.783 +/- 0.021, 0.543 +/- 0.033, 0.538 +/- 0.024, 0.212 +/- 0.019, respectively, F = 267.340, P < than 0.05. smad3 protein were 0.892 +/- 0.012, 0.124 +/- 0.011, 0.130 +/- 0.021, 0.003 +/- 0.001, F = 2823.813, P < l than 0.05. beta-catenin protein were 0.921 +/- 0.020, 0.210 +/- 0.010, 0.208 +/- 0.008, 0.002 +/- 0.001, respectively, F = 3440.982, P < than 0.05). The expression of beta-catenin and smad3 protein had a positive correlation with the level of alpha-SMA protein in cells (r = 0.901, P < than 0.01; r = 0.939, P < than 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Expression of smad3/alpha-SMA/beta-catenin is increased in the cultured HSC-T6 cells transfected by beta-catenin gene, especially when the transfected cells are stimulated by TGFbeta1. Our data suggest that beta-catenin could aggravate hepatic fibrosis induced by TGFbeta1.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Actins , Metabolism , Blotting, Western , Cell Line , Green Fluorescent Proteins , Genetics , Hepatic Stellate Cells , Metabolism , Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental , Metabolism , Pathology , Plasmids , Genetics , RNA, Messenger , Metabolism , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Smad3 Protein , Genetics , Metabolism , Transfection , Transforming Growth Factor beta1 , Pharmacology , beta Catenin , Genetics , MetabolismABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of verapamil on the pharmacokinetics of puerarin in rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Puerarin with or without verapamil was administered intravenously or orally to rats. The concentration of puerarin in serum was determined by HPLC.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>No significant difference was found between the control and 0.5 microg x g(-1) verapamil combined groups for intravenous administration, and there was significant difference between the control and 2. 5 microg x g(-1) verapamil combined groups (P < 0.05). When puerarin was administered orally with verapamil, significant difference was found between the control and combined groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Verapamil inhibited puerarin metabolism when puerarin was coadministered with verapamil, so it is necessary to change the therapeutic dose of puerarin.</p>