Effects of 5-hydroxytamine and its antagonists on hepatic stellate cells.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) plays a key role in hepatic fibrosis. This study was undertaken to investigate the expression of 5-hydroxytamine receptors in HSC and the effect of 5-hydroxytamine on biological characteristics of HSC. METHODS: Liver ex vivo perfusion of collagenase and density gradient centrifugation were used to isolate HSCs. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of 5-hydroxytamine receptor subtypes 1A, 2A, 2B and 3. Western blot hybridization was used to elucidate the effect of 5-hydroxytamine and its 2A receptor antagonist ketanserin and 3 receptor antagonist ondanosetron on the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and Smad4 in HSC. RESULTS: HSC expressed 5-hydroxytamine receptor subtypes 1A, 2A and 2B. 5-hydroxytamine significantly increased the expression of TGF-beta1 and Smad4 in HSC (P<0.05). This action can be antagonized by ketanserin, not by ondanosetron. CONCLUSIONS: HSC expresses 5-hydroxytamine receptors. 5-Hydroxytamine could effect the biological characteristics of HSC through its receptor mediation, and may play a role in the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension.