ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of transforming growth factor beta (TGF ) on c-fos gene expression in hepatic stellate cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6) were cultured in the medium containing different concentrations of TGF (0.2, 1, and 5 ng/ml), and cells were collected at different time points of incubation (8, 24, 48, and 72 h). The total RNA of the HSCs was isolated and c-fos gene expression level were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>c-fos gene expression levels of HSCs cultured in the presence of low (0.2 ng/ml), moderate (1 ng/ml) and high (5 ng/ml) concentrations of TGF for 8, 24, 48 and 72 h were significantly greater than those of control group. The c-fos gene expression levels of HSCs increased gradually with the increment of TGF concentration, and significant differences in c-fos gene expression were found between the 3TGF groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TGF strongly up-regulates c-fos gene expression in hepatic stellate cells.</p>