Effects of angiotensin II on protein kinase Cε and Cα expression in hepatic stellate cells

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of angiotensinⅡon protein kinase Ce (PKCe) and protein kinase Cα (PKCα) expression in hepatic stellate cells. Methods Hepatic stellate cell (HSC)-T6 cells were treated with different concentrations of angiotensinⅡand the proliferation of HSC-T6 cells was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The expression of PKCe and PKCα was detected by immunofluorescence staining. PKCe and PKCα mRNA levels was detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results AngiotensinⅡconcentrated the proliferation of HSC-T6 cells and the level of hydroxyproline (F=25.321, 13.283, P<0.001) and showed a dose-dependent effect. With the increase of angiotensin Ⅱ concentration, PKCe significantly increased and translocated in the cell membrane; PKCα increased significantly, especially in transplanted membrane and cytoplasm (F=21.387, 19.431, P<0.01), and showed obvious dose effect. Meanwhile, Angiotensin Ⅱ increased the expression of PKCe and PKCα, and induced cell proliferation by up-regulating PKCe and PKCα mRNA levels (F=13.279, 15.174, P<0.05). Conclusions AngiotensinⅡcan up-regulate the expression of collagen in hepatic stellate cells in a dose-dependent manner, increase the expression of protein kinase Ce and Cα, and promote the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells. Key words: Angiotensin Ⅱ/PD; Hepatic stellate cells/DE/EN; Protein kinase C-alpha/ME; Protein kinase C-epsilon/ME; Cell proliferation