Objective: To investigate the anti-fibrosis mechanism of radix astragali through the observation on regulating cytokine secretion by astragalosides and astragalus polysaccharides in hepatic stellate cell line LX-2.
Methods: Astragalus polysaccharides and astragalosides at concentration of 25 microg/ml and 300 microg/ml were added to LX-2 cell culture.After 24 h culture total RNA contents were extracted and TGF-beta1, HGF, MP2 and MMP9 mRNA were measured by real time fluorescence quantification PCR technique. The cell growth curves were detected by Real Time Cell Electronics Sensing.
Results: 300 microg/ml of astragalus polysaccharides suppressed LX-2 cell proliferation (P<0.05, in 94.7 h), while astragalosides induced an significant cell proliferation (P<0.05) both at lower and higher concentration. 25 microg/ml astragalus polysaccharides and astragalosides induced TGF-beta1 expression. For other cytokines, astragalus polysaccharides induced a 104.9 fold higher expression of MMP2, while astragalosides induced a 550.65 fold higher expression of IL-10. Astragalus polysaccharides at 300 microg/ml concentration exhibited an inhibition effect on TGF-beta1, HGF, MMP9 and IL-10 mRNA expression, while up-regulated MMP2 mRNA expression. Astragalosides at 300 mug/ml concentration inhibited TGF-beta1 mRNA expression, while up-regulated MMP2, MMP9 and IL-10 mRNA expression.
Conclusion: The anti-fibrosis function of astragalus polysaccharides might be associated with up-regulation of MMP2 expression, while that of astragalosides with up-regulation of MMP2, MMP9 and IL-10 expression.