Activation of hepaticstellate cells cocultured with hepatoma carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) cocultured with hepatoma carcinoma cells. Methods: MHCC97H cells and HSCs were cocultured by cell-cell contact method, fibrinogen-thrombin paste technique, conditioned media from MHCC97H(MHCC97H-CM) and Transwell coculture technique, respectively. MHCC97H cells and HSCs were inoculated s. c. into nude mice. The expression of α-SMA in HSCs was assessed by immunocytochemical staining and Western blotting. Proliferation and migration of HSCs was determined using Cell-Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and wound healing and Transwell technique, respectively. Results: The activation of HSCs was significantly increased in the all cocultured system. The expression of α-SMA was up-regulated by cell-cell contact method, MHCC97H-CM, Transwell coculture technique in vitro and in cancer-bearing mice in vivo. The increased chemotaxis of MHCC97H cells and HSCs was observed by cell-cell contact method, fibrinogen-thrombin paste technique and in cancer-bearing mice. The proliferation and migration abilities of HSCs were significantly enhanced. Conclusion: Hepatoma carcinoma cells can promote the activation, proliferation and migration of HSCs under the cocultured system in vitro and in vivo.