Gomisin D alleviates liver fibrosis through targeting PDGFRβ in hepatic stellate cells

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Platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) plays an important role in hepatic fibrosis and is closely associated with hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation. Previously, by modeling PDGFRβ affinity chromatography, we found that gomisin D can target PDGFRβ. However, whether gomisin D has anti-fibrosis effects through targeting PDGFRβ remained unclear. In this study, the effect of gomisin D on hepatic fibrosis was evaluated in vivo and vitro. HSC cell lines and primary HSC were cultured and functionally we found that gomisin D promotes HSC apoptosis, inhibits HSCs activation and proliferation. A male BALB/c mouse liver fibrosis model was established to comfirm gomisin D (especially in 50 mg/kg) could improve liver fibrosis by inhibiting HSCs activation. In addition, gomisin D had a good binding ability with PDGFRβ (KD = 3.3e-5 M). Mechanically, gomisin D regulated PDGF-BB/PDGFRβ signaling pathway by targeting PDGFRβ, further more inhibited HSC activation, subsequently inhibited inflammatory factors, ultimately improved CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Overall, gomisin D could inhibit HSC proliferation and activation, promote HSC apoptosis, and alleviate CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis by targeting PDGFRβ and regulating PDGF-BB/PDGFRβ signaling pathway. This study provides a new drug for anti-liver firbosis therapy, and elucidates the deeper mechanism of gomisin D against HSCs activation by targeting PDGFRβ.