Objective: To investigate the effects of blueberry on the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) and its mechanism.
Methods: Rat HSC were isolated by type IV collagenase digestion and Nycodenz density gradient centrifugation. The cultured HSC was incubated at different concentrations of 10% blueberry serum. The 10% DSHX serum was used as positive control and 10% normal rat serum group as control. MTT colorimetric assay was used to detect the HSC proliferation. ColI of culture supernatant was detected by ELISA. The expression of α-SMA in HSC was measured by immunocytochemistry staining while the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 were determined by Western blot.
Results: Compared with controls, the low and high-dose blueberry serum groups significantly inhibited the HSC proliferation (P < 0.05). It had the same inhibitory effects as the positive control serum group (P > 0.05). ColI of culture supernatant obviously decreased (P < 0.05). And the expression levels of α-SMA in low and high-dose blueberry serum groups decreased significantly (P < 0.05). And there were similar effects in low & high-dose blueberry serum and positive control serum groups. Western blot showed that the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 in blueberry and positive control serum groups were higher than that in control group. And the increment was more significant in the low and high-dose blueberry serum groups (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Blueberry can significantly inhibit the proliferation and activation of HSC and reduce the synthesis of extra-cellular matrix. It may have potential preventive and protective effects on hepatic fibrosis. The mechanism may be related to an elevated expression of HO-1 through the Nrf2 pathway.