간성상세포(HSC)는 간섬유화와 간경변에 중요한 역할을 한다고 알려져 있다. 간손상에 의해 둥근 모양의 간성상세포는 활성화되어 세포외기질(ECM)을 생산하는 myofibroblast와 같은 모양으로 활성화 된다. 활성화된 간성상세포의 특징은 빠른 증식 속도와 collagen과 같은 세포외 기질의 생산이다. 활성화된 간성상 세포의 제거방법은 apoptosis를 유도하는 것이다. 가자 추출물은 정상 간세포(rat primary hepatocyte), 간세포주(HepG2) 및 활성화된 간성상세포주인 T-HSC/Cl-6에 $1,000{mu}g/mL$의 농도까지 처리하여 세포독성을 확인하였다. 그 결과 hepatocyte나 HepG2에서는 최고 농도에서도 독성이 없었으나 T-HSC/Cl-6는 U-shape 모양으로 사멸하는 것을 확인 하였다. T-HSC/Cl-6의 사멸이 apoptosis에 의한 것인지를 Annexin-V/PI double staining을 통하여 확인한 결과 apoptosis에 의해 T-HSC/Cl-6의 사멸이 일어나는 것을 확인하였다.
Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is known to be responsible for hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. When round-shape quiescent HSCs go to activation by liver injury, production of extracellular matrix is increased, and its shape becomes myofibroblast-like shape. The activated HSCs are characterized by the high rate of proliferation and the increased production of extracellular matrix. One way of the regeneration of activated HSCs is an apoptosis induction followed by removing the activated myofibroblast-like cells. The effect of extract of Terminalia chebula Retz. (TCE) on cytotoxicity was evaluated using the rat primary hepatocyte, HepG2 and T-HSC/Cl-6 by incubating these cells with TCE up to the dose of $1,000{mu}g/mL$. At the maximum dose of TCE, no cytotoxicity was found on primary hepatocyte and HepG2, but cytotoxic effect of TCE was found on activated HSCs, and T-HSC/Cl-6 in a U-shaped dose-response manner with the highest effect at $500{mu}g/mL$ of TCE. Finally, we confirmed the occurrence of apoptotic cell death by annexin-V/PI double staining. The population of annexin-V positive cells was increased in a dose dependent manner.
