Objectives: To investigate the effect of interlukin-10 (IL-10) on expression and secretion of collagen I, IV in rat's hepatic stellate cells (HSC) of livers injured by CCl4.
Method: The adenovirus vector encoded IL-10 gene was used to transfect rats with liver injury via the caudal veins. HSC were isolated and purified from the rat livers by collagenase IV perfusion and density gradient centrifugation with Nycodenz. The expression of collagen I, IV mRNA in HSC was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR method and the secretion of collagen I, IV in culture serum of HSC by ELISA method. The quantity of collagen was measured in the van Gieson stained histological liver preparations.
Results: The expression and secretion of collagen I, IV in the adenovirus vector encoding IL-10 gene group were significantly lower than those in the adenovirus vector without IL-10 gene group and the control group (P < 0.05). The quantity of collagen in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group.
Conclusion: IL-10 can inhibit collagen I, IV expression and secretion in rat HSC.