CYCLOSPORINE-A AND FK-506 IN INHIBITION OF RAT ITO CELL ACTIVATION IN-VITRO

Ito cells are the primary matrix-producing cells in the liver. In hepatic fibrosis in vivo or culture on plastic, these cells undergo activation, a process characterized by cell proliferation, fibrogenesis, and smooth muscle alpha-actin expression. The cytosolic-binding proteins of cyclosporin A (CsA) and FK506 accelerate folding of various proteins including collagen and become inactivated by binding to those agents. CsA is shown to inhibit collagen synthesis in cultured fibroblasts. These findings prompted us to examine the effect of cyclosporin A and FK506 on Ito cell activation. CsA and FK506 reduced DNA synthesis in a dose-related manner, to 26% and 45% of controls at 5 mu mol/L, respectively, without affecting total protein synthesis. CsA reduced collagen synthesis in a dose-related manner, to 70% of controls at 5 mu mol/L L without affecting noncollagenous protein synthesis, whereas FK506 changed neither collagen synthesis nor noncollagenous protein synthesis. Moreover, smooth muscle alpha-actin expression was reduced by 0.5 mu mol/L CsA but not by FK506. CsA merits consideration for the therapy of hepatic fibrosis. FK506 may also be a candidate for such therapy through inhibitory action on Ito cell proliferation.