Effect of siRNA-mediated Smad3 silence on proliferation and apoptosis in activated hepatic stellate cells

AIM: To investigate the effects of siRNA-mediated Smad3 silence on proliferation and apoptosis in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).METHODS: HSCs-T6 cells were divided into 3 groups: blank group, negative control group and siRNA-Smad3 transfection group. The siRNA-Smad3 was transfected into HSCs-T6 cells. At different time points after transfection, cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8, cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and protein levels of P53 and Bcl-2 were determined by immunocytochemistry.RESULTS: HSCs proliferation was significantly inhibited at the time points of 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after transfection. Meanwhile, the apoptosis of HSCs was significantly increased in siRNA-Smad3 transfection group (P<0.01). Compared to the control cells, the protein expression of P53 was significantly increased while Bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased 48 h after transfection in siRNA-Smad3 transfection group (P<0.01).CONCLUSION: The siRNA-mediated Smad3 silence significantly inhibits HSCs proliferation and induces apoptosis by up-regulating the P53 expression and down-regulating the Bcl-2 expression in HSCs.