F2-isoprostanes are considered as the most reliable markers of oxidative stress and can be used to evaluate the oxidative status in a number of human pathologies. Besides being markers of oxidative stress, F2-isoprostanes proved to be mediators of important biological effects and would act through the activation of receptors analogous to those for thromboxane A2. In a previous work, we provided evidence that F(2)-isoprostanes, generated during carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis, mediate hepatic stellate cell (HSC) proliferation and collagen hyperproduction. To investigate whether TxA2 receptor (TxA2r or TPr) is involved in the effects of F2-isoprostanes on HSC, experiments on DNA synthesis were carried out in the presence of 8-epi-prostaglandin F(2alpha) (8-epi-PGF(2alpha)) or the TxA2r-specific agonist I-BOP ([1S-[1alpha,2alpha(Z),3beta(1E,3S*), 4alpha]]-7-[3-[3-hydroxy-4-(4-iodophenoxy)-1-butenyl]-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]-5-heptenoic acid). Both agonists significantly stimulated DNA synthesis, which was almost completely inhibited by the TxA2r-specific antagonist SQ29548 ([1S-[1alpha,2alpha(Z),3alpha,4alpha]]-7-[3-[[2-[(phenylamino)carbonyl] hydrazino] methyl]-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]-5-heptanoic acid), suggesting that much of the effect of 8-epi-PGF(2alpha) is mediated by the TxA2r. Further studies showed that increasing concentrations of SQ29548 progressively inhibit DNA synthesis, suggesting a possible competitive antagonism between the two molecules. In addition, we demonstrated that the stimulatory effect of 8-epi-PGF(2alpha) on collagen synthesis could be mediated by TxA2r. The occurrence of TxA2r on HSC was also investigated using western blotting analysis and immunocytochemistry, which reveals that TP is distributed both on plasma membranes and within the cells. Moreover, binding studies indicated the presence of a specific binding site for 3H-SQ29548 on HSC. Competition binding studies indicated that 8-epi-PGF(2alpha) and I-BOP were both able to displace 3H-SQ29548 binding with a very different affinity (K(i)=4.14+/-1.9 x 10(-6) M and K(i)=1.15+/-0.3 x 10(-9) M, respectively), suggesting the involvement of a modified form of isoprostane receptor, homologous to the classic thromboxane A2-binding site in F2-isoprostanes-evoked responses on HSC.