Effect of serum obtained from rat with hepatopulmonary syndrome on Akt mRNA and protein expression in rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of the serum obtained from rat with hepatopuimonary syndrome (HPS) on Akt mRNA and protein expression in rat pulmonary microvascular endotheliai cells (PMVECs) and the role of Akt signaling pathway in the proliferation of PMVECs in the HPS. Methods Healthy 3-4-month-old SD rats of both sexes were used in this study. HPS was produced by chronic ligation of common bile duct according to the method described by Fallon. liver cirrhosis and pulmonary microvascular proliferation were verified by microscopic examination of the liver and lung tissue 2 weeks after bile duct ligation. Serum was obtained from blood taken from aorta of HPS rats. Primary PMVECs were cultured and randomly divided into 2 groups control group and HPS group. In HPS group serum was added to cultured PMVECs (final concentration was 10%) and incubated. Akt mRNA and protein expression was determined at 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation by RT-PCR and Western blot. The proliferation of PMVECs was detected by MTT and ~3H-TdR. Results The proliferation of PMVECs was significantly enhanced and the expression of Akt mRNA and protein was significantly increased in HPS group as compared with control group. Conclusion The Akt signaling pathway might play an important role in proliferation of PMVECs in the HPS.