Relationship between oxidative stress levels and activation state on a hepatic stellate cell line

Oxidative stress plays an important role in liver fibrosis. Under pathological conditions, hepatic stellate cells (HSC) undergo an activation process, developing a myofibroblast-like phenotype from the lipocyte phenotype. In this study, we determined the levels of oxidative stress and proliferation in different activation states of an experimental model of mouse HSC, the GRX cell line. These cells can be induced in vitro to display a more activated state or a quiescent phenotype.

We observed increased oxidative damage and higher levels of reactive oxygen species, measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive species and 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate, respectively, and diminished catalase activity in activated cells. Activation decreased proliferation and increased the number of cells in G2/M. Antioxidants N-acetylcysteine and Trolox varied in their capacity to correct the oxidative stress and proliferation status.

The differences in physiological functions of stellate cell phenotypes suggest a relationship between oxidative stress levels and activation state.