Effect of endotoxin on fibronectin synthesis of rat primary cultured hepatocytes

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Abstract
AIM: To investigate the effect of endotoxin on liver fibrosis and further define the role of hepatocytes in production of fibronectin in primary livercell culture by endotoxin. METHODS: After isolation and seeding of hepatocytes, the obtained cells were added to various doses (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/L) of LPS treated culture media. The cells were collected and counted at various periods (0, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 h). The concentrations of fibronectin were tested by electrophoresis. RESULTS: The fibronectin levels tended to increase with prolongation of culture time. There was a sharp increase after 72 h in 10 or 15 LPS treated group. The peak level of fibronectin was above 20 mg/L. However, cell proliferation was inhibited during the course. Cell number of untreated control group (4.6 ± 0.1 × 106) was about three fold that of 20 LPS treated group (1.6 ± 0. 2 × 106) at 120 h. CONCLUSION: Hepatocytes have a potent ability to produce fibronectin stimulated by endotoxin, suggesting that hepatocytes might participate in the process of liver fibrosis.