Sauchinone attenuates liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell activation through TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway

• Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are key mediators of fibrogenesis.
• Sauchinone inhibited liver fibrosis and TGF-β1-induced HSC activation in vivo and in vitro.
• Sauchinone blocked the TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation of Smad 2/3 and the level of PAI-1 and MMP-2.
• Sauchinone also inhibited autophagy and oxidative stress in HSCs.
• These events may have a role in its inhibitory effects on HSCs activation.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are key mediators of fibrogenesis, and the regulation of their activation is now viewed as an attractive target for the treatment of liver fibrosis. Here, the authors investigated the ability of sauchinone, an active lignan found in Saururus chinensis, to regulate the activation of HSCs, to prevent liver fibrosis, and to inhibit oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro. Blood biochemistry and histopathology were assessed in CCl4-induced mouse model of liver fibrosis to investigate the effects of sauchinone. In addition, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-activated LX-2 cells (a human HSC line) were used to investigate the in vitro effects of sauchinone. Sauchinone significantly inhibited liver fibrosis, as indicated by decreases in regions of hepatic degeneration, inflammatory cell infiltration, and the intensity of α-smooth muscle actin staining in mice. Sauchinone blocked the TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation of Smad 2/3 and the transcript levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and matrix metalloproteinase-2 as well as autophagy in HSCs. Furthermore, sauchinone inhibited oxidative stress, as assessed by stainings of 4-hydroxynonenal and nitrotyrosine: these events may have a role in its inhibitory effects on HSCs activation. Sauchinone attenuated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and TGF-β1-induced HSCs activation, which might be, at least in part, mediated by suppressing autophagy and oxidative stress in HSCs.