Viral Hepatitis
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 28, 2006; 12(32): 5153-5159
Published online Aug 28, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i32.5153
Synergistic effect of a novel oxymatrine-baicalin combination against hepatitis B virus replication, α smooth muscle actin expression and type I collagen synthesis in vitro
Yang Cheng, Jian Ping, Huai-Dong Xu, Hai-Jun Fu, Zhao-Hui Zhou
Yang Cheng, Jian Ping, Institute of Liver Disease, Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
Huai-Dong Xu, Hai-Jun Fu, Zhao-Hui Zhou, Shanghai Kairuisi Biotechnological Co. Ltd., Shanghai 200030, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Yang Cheng, Institute of Liver Disease, Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China. yangcheng@myrealbox.com
Telephone: +86-21-51322444 Fax: +86-21-51322445
Received: March 3, 2006
Revised: April 15, 2006
Accepted: April 21, 2006
Published online: August 28, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To study the effect of oxymatrine-baicalin combination (OB) against HBV replication in 2.2.15 cells and α smooth muscle actin (α SMA) expression, type I, collagen synthesis in HSC-T6 cells.

METHODS: The 2.2.15 cells and HSC-T6 cells were cultured and treated respectively. HBsAg and HBeAg in the culture supernatants were detected by ELISA and HBV DNA levels were determined by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Total RNA was extracted from HSC-T6 cells and reverse transcribed into cDNA. The cDNAs were amplified by PCR and the quantities were expressed in proportion to β actin. The total cellular proteins extracted from HSC-T6 cells were separated by electrophoresis. Resolved proteins were electrophoretically transferred to nitrocellulose membrane. Protein bands were revealed and the quantities were corrected by β actin.

RESULTS: In the 2.2.15 cell culture system, the inhibitory rate against secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg in the OB group was significantly stronger than that in the oxymatrine group (HBsAg, P = 0.043; HBeAg, P = 0.026; respectively); HBV DNA level in the OB group was significantly lower than that in the oxymatrine group (P = 0.041). In HSC-T6 cells the mRNA and protein expression levels of α SMA in the OB group were significantly lower as compared with those in the oxymatrine group (mRNA, P = 0.013; protein, P = 0.042; respectively); The mRNA and protein expression levels of type I collagen in the OB group were significantly lower as compared with those in the oxymatrine group (mRNA, P < 0.01; protein, P < 0.01; respectively).

CONCLUSION: OB combination has a better effect against HBV replication in 2.2.15 cells and is more effective against α SMA expression and typeI collagen synthesis in HSC-T6 cells than oxymatrine in vitro.

Keywords: 2.2.15 cells; HSC-T6 cells; Oxymatrine; Baicalin; Hepatitis B virus; α smooth muscle actin; Type I collagen