IL-13 induces STAT6 phosphorylation and promotes fibrosis in human hepatic stellate cells / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of IL-13 on fibrosis in hepatic stellate cells and its molecular mechanism .Methods The effects of IL-13 on the proliferation of hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 were measured by MTT assay .The transcription level of collagen typeⅠ( COLⅠ) in LX-2 cells was detec-ted by RT-PCR.The secretion of COLⅠin LX-2 cells was measured by ELISA assay and hydroxyproline as-say.Western blot assay was used to analyze the effects of IL-13 on the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription(STAT6).Results Compared with control group, IL-13 (10 ng/ml, 20 ng/ml and 50 ng/ml ) significantly stimulated the proliferation of LX-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner ( P0.05).The expression of phosphorylated STAT6 protein in LX-2 cells was significantly enhanced upon the stimulation with 50 ng/ml of IL-13 ( P<0.05 ) for60 min or 120 min.C onclusion IL-13 promoted the proliferation of human hepatic stellate cells and up-regulated the expression of COLⅠat mRNA and protein levels .IL-13 might promote the fibrosis in human hepatic stellate cells through activating STAT 6 phosphorylation .