Effect of Artesunate on Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin Signal Pathway in Human Hepatic Stellate Cells / 中国药师

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the effect of artesunate (Art) on Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signal pathway.Methods: Art at different concentrations (0, 12.5, 25, 50 μg·ml-1) was used to treat human hepatic stellate cells (LX-2), and CCK-8 assay was used to detect the cell proliferation to determine the optimal concentration.Art inhibitor (MK-2206) at different concentrations (0~8 μmol·L-1) was given to LX-2 cells, and a Western Blot method was applied to determine the optimal inhibition concentration.Art, MK-2206 and MK-2206+Art were respectively given to LX-2 cells, and a Western Blot method was used to detect the levels of Akt, p-Akt, GSK-3β, p-GSK-3β and β-catenin proteins.Results: CCK-8 assay was used to detect the cell survival rate, and the survival rate was 80% after the 24-hour treatment with 25 μg·ml-1 Art.The results of Western Blot showed that MK-2206 at 6 μmol·L-1 could effectively inhibit the expression of p-Akt.Compared with those of the control group, the levels of Akt, p-Akt, p-GSK-3β and β-catenin protein were significantly different (P＜0.05) in Art (25 μg·ml-1) group, MK-2206 (6 μmol·L-1) group and MK-2206 (6 μmol·L-1) + Art (25 μg·ml-1) group.The expression of GSK-3β and Akt in MK-2206+Art group had no significant difference when compared with that in Art group and MK-2206 group (P＞0.05), while the levels of p-Akt, p-GSK-3β and β-catenin were significantly reduced (P＜0.01).Conclusion: Art exhibits the influence on the relative factors in Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway by Akt/β-catenin, subsequently inhibits the cell proliferation and alleviates the liver fibrosis process.