마황(麻黃) 열수 추출물의 TGF-β/Smad 경로 억제를 통한 간섬유화 억제효능 = Ephedra has anti-fibrogenic effects by inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad pathway in LX-2 cells

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Objective : Ephedrae Herba (Ephedra) has been frequently used in the East Asian traditional medicine including Korea, China and Japan in the clinical treatment of asthma, cold and influenza etc. This study was performed to explore an anti-fibrogenic potential of Ephedra Herba water extract (EHE) using immortalized human hepatic stellate cell line, LX-2 cells. Methods : We examined the anti-fibrogenic effects of EHE on canonical pathway of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling in LX-2 cells. Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. mRNA levels were detected by real-time PCR. Proteins expression were detected by Western blot. Results : Treatment of EHE 30 ㎍/ml did not show any cytotoxicity on LX-2 cells. Pre-treatment of EHE (30 ㎍/mL) significantly inhibited α-smooth muscle actin expression induced by TGF-β1. Additionally, EHE significantly decreased Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylations, Smad binding element-driven luciferase activity and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 expression by TGF-β1. Furthermore, increases of matrix metalloproteinases 2 genes by TGF-β1 was also attenuated by EHE treatment. Conclusion : These results suggest that EHE has an ability to suppress fibrogenic process in activated HSC via inhibition of TGF-β1-TGFBR mediated canonical (Smad dependent) pathway.