A proteomics study on the mechanism and signaling pathways for the activation of hepatic stellate cells by serum from liver fibrotic rats

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To study on the possible mechanism for the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) by serum from liver fibrotic rats in vitro. Methods Whole proteins of HSCs were extracted after 14 days incubation of the cells with serum from fibrotic or normal rats. The proteins were then analyzed by a label free method. The differentially expressed proteins were analyzed based on Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG)databases. Results A total of 221 differential proteins were identified between two cellular preparations. These proteins were mainly located in Organelles and membranes, and could perform molecular functions such as catalytic activity and cellular function regulation. They were involved in 26 biological processes such as metabolism and biological regulation. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that these proteins were mainly involved in steroid and cholesterol metabolisms. Conclusion The abnormal expressions of cadherin-2, fibronectin, Notch 1 and Notch 2 proteins are highly correlated with the activation of HSC. These results suggest that these proteins may be the targets of HSC activation, and that the extracellular matrix and Notch signaling pathways are highly correlated with HSC activation.

Key words: Hepatic stellate cells, Proteomics, Mechanism of liver fibrosis, Rat

LI Min-hang, CAI Bi-lian, JIANG Yun-xia, LUO Wei-sheng. A proteomics study on the mechanism and signaling pathways for the activation of hepatic stellate cells by serum from liver fibrotic rats[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2021, 26(7): 737-741.

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