Palmitic Acid Prossesses Anti-proliferation Effect On Rat Hepatic Stellate Cells Through Ceramide Signaling

Objective: To investigate the effects of ceramide on anti-proliferation of rat hepatic stellate cell line(HSC-T6) treated with palmitic acid(PA).Methods: Rat hepatic stellate cells, HSC-T6, were administrated with concentration gradient of PA(0 u M 、5u M 、12.5 u M 、25 u M 、50 u M 、100 u M 、200 u M 、400 u M). After 24 h and 48 h, cell viability was measured by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) and optimal concentration of PA for inhibiting proliferation of HSC-T6 cells will be determined in order to follow steps of the study. The HSC-T6 cells were exposure to free palmitic acid(control group), palmitic acid(PA group), and PA combined with Fumonisin B1(PA+FB1 group), respectively. Cell viability in the three groups were measured by CCK-8 after 24 hours and 48 hours. Expression of alpha smooth muscle actin(a-SMA) m RNA in HSC-T6 cells was quantified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain react(RT-PCR). The cellular levels of ceramides were measured using high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).Results: 1. Anti-proliferation in HSC-T6 cells induced by PA is concentrationand time-dependent and the effect can be reversed by ceramide synthesis inhibitor fumonisin B1.2. There was lower expression of a-SMA m RNA of HSC-T6 cells in PA group than control group(P<0.05) and PA+FB1 group(P<0.05).3. Cellular levels of ceramides were higher in PA group than control group(P<0.05) and PA+FB1 group(P<0.05).Conclusions: 1.Anti-proliferation in HSC-T6 cells induced by PA is concentrationand time-dependent and the effect can be reversed by ceramide synthesis inhibitor fumonisin B1.2. The anti-proliferation in HSC-T6 cells induced by PA may be linked to induction of apoptosis as a result of elevated ceramide levels.