Effects of neurotropic pyrimidine heterocyclic compound, MS-430, on cultured hepatic parenchymal and stellate cells

MS-430 is a novel synthetic pyrimidine derivative that stimulates regeneration of the nerve as a promoter for various growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) and nerve growth factor, and differentiation of astrocytes. The effects of MS-430 on the liver were tested using hepatocytes and stellate cells in primary culture isolated from rats. MS-430 enhanced EGF-induced DNA synthesis in hepatocytes while it alone failed to increase the basal DNA synthesis. Albumin mRNA expression in the cells and its amount in the medium were not changed by addition of EGF or MS-430 alone or both. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) increased DNA and but not collagen synthesis by hepatic stellate cells. Addition of MS-430 inhibited DNA synthesis by hepatic stellate cells at either presence or absence of bFGF, and collagen synthesis at the presence of bFGF. However, MS-430 had no effects on basal or bFGF-stimulated TGF beta mRNA expression in the cells. These results suggest that MS-430 stimulated proliferation of hepatocytes as a comitogen for EGF without affecting albumin synthesis, and suppressed proliferation of activated hepatic stellate cells and their collagen synthesis without affecting TGF beta expression.