Schisandrin B Attenuates Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Promotes Apoptosis to Protect against Liver Fibrosis

Abstract

The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) plays a key role in the progression of hepatic fibrosis, it is essential to remove activated HSC through apoptosis to reverse hepatic fibrosis. Schisandrin B (Sch B) is the main chemical component of schisandrin lignan, and it has been reported to have good hepatoprotective effects. However, Schisandrin B on HSC apoptosis remains unclear. In our study, we stimulated the HSC-T6 and LX-2 cell lines with TGF-β1 to induce cell activation, and the proliferation and apoptosis of the activated HSC-T6 and LX-2 cells were detected after treatment with different doses of Schisandrin B. Flow cytometry results showed that Sch B significantly reduced the activity of activated HSC-T6 and LX-2 cells and significantly induced apoptosis. In addition, the cleaved-Caspase-3 levels were increased, the Bax activity was increased, and the Bcl-2 expression was decreased in HSC-T6 and LX-2 cells treated with Sch B. Our study showed that Sch B inhibited the TGF-β1-induced activity of hepatic stellate cells by promoting apoptosis.

A Comparison of the Gene Expression Profiles of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease between Animal Models of a High-Fat Diet and Methionine-Choline-Deficient Diet

“…NASH with fibrosis is characterized by extensive accumulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is usually followed by extensive tissue damage [57]. The fibrogenesis process in the liver is thought to mainly be regulated by hepatic stellate cells [58], and its activation produces collagen I (COL I), collagen III (COL III), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) [4] in response to overexpression of X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP1) [59], NACHT, leucine-rich-repeat, pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) [60], and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) [57]. Collagen is the principal component of the extracellular matrix or scars.…”

Coprinus comatuspolysaccharides ameliorated carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis through modulating inflammation and apoptosis

“…Li et al showed that Schisandrin B promotes HSC apoptosis against liver fibrosis. 56 Chiang et al reported that Lycium barbarum polysaccharide can attenuate hepatocyte apoptosis to suppress hepatic fibrosis. 57 These results are in keeping with our work.…”

Traditional Chinese medicine targets on hepatic stellate cells for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis: A mechanistic review

“…Schisandrin B, salvianolic acid A, and kaempferol are active ingredients of FZHY that directly bind to PPARγ and inhibit the activity of HSCs 79 . Schisandrin B also showed a hepatoprotective effect by attenuating HSC activation and promoting apoptosis in vitro 28 . Furthermore, Schisandrin B controls macrophage polarization by activating PPARγ 80 .…”