RESUMEN
ObjectiveTo investigate the inhibitory effect of bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) on proliferation of rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC).MethodsHSC-T6 cells were cultured in vitro,and divided into four groups:control group,transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 group,TGFβ1 + BMP7 group,and TGFβ1 + BMP7 + Noggin group. The mRNA expressions of smad1,α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA),gremlin and fibronectin (FN) were determined by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptasepolymerasechainreaction(RT-PCR).Theproteinexpressionsof phosphorylated-smad1/5/8 (P-smad1/5/8),α-SMA and gremlin were detected by Western blot.The statistical analysis were done using one-factor analysis of variance,LSD-t test,Dunnett's T3 test and Pearson linear correlation analysis.ResultsPhosphorylated-smad1/5/8,α-SMA,gremlin and FN were expressed on HSC-T6 cells in control group,which were significantly up-regulated after TGFβ1 stimulation (P＜0.05).The expressions of α-SMA,gremlin and FN were significantly down-regulated in TGFβ1 + BMP7 group compared with TGFβ1group, while P-smad1/5/8 expression was upregulated (1.613±0.031 vs.2.503±0.014; t=34.89,P＜0.05).The expressions of α-SMA,gremlin and FN in TGFβ1 + BMP7 + Noggin group were up-regulated than those in TGFβ1 + BMP7 group,while P-smad1/5/8 was down-regulated (t=34.05,P＜0.05).There was no difference of total smad1 mRNA expression among each group.ConclusionThese results collectively suggest that BMP7 strongly inhibits the expressions of α-SMA,gremlin and FN.