Total Flavonoids Of Litchi Suppresses Poliferation Of Human Hepatic Stellate Cells LX2 By Upregulating P27

Objective: To investigate the effect of total flavonoids of litchi(TFL) on poliferation of human hepatic stellate LX2 cells and explore the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: LX2 cells treated with different concentrations(7.8125、15.6250、31.2500、62.5000、125.0000 μg/mL) of TFL were examined for cell growth inhibition using CCK8. Flow cytometry analyzed the changes in cell cycle distribution of LX2 cells. p27 mRNA and protein expression in LX2 cells were determined by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot respectively. RESULTS: Exposure to TFL for 48 h and 72 h both caused inhibition of LX2 cells proliferation and the inhibition was more significant when the time of TFL effect was prolonged. Treated with various concentrations of TFL for 72 h, LX2 cell inhibition rates were 7.42%±5.66%、9.88%±0.73%、11.55% ± 3.35% 、 9.47% ± 3.67% 、 9.12% ± 5.35%. TFL concentration in 7.8125μg/mL was not significantly different to the control’s. TFL groups in 15.6250、31.2500、62.5000、125.0000μg/mL relative to DMSO control groups showed statistical differences significantly(P<0.05). Meanwhile, the cell cycle distribution of LX2 cell exposed to TFL was different to the control’s. The number of S-phase cell in TFL was obviously more than DMSO control group’. So TFL induced S-phase cell cycle arrest showed by flow cytometric analysis. In addiition, expression of p27 at the mRNA level and protein level in LX2 cells was upregulated in the treatment groups. CONCLUSION: TFL inhibits human hepatic stellate LX2 cells proliferation and arrests cells at S phase, and the mechanism may have a close relationship with the upregulation of p27 expression.