Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of activation of the GLP-1 receptor on the p38MAPK signaling pathway in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). METHODS: HSCs were isolated and identified according to morphological features; the levels of GLP-1R protein were determined by western blotting.The HSCs were randomly divided into a control grouP (normal saline treatment) and experimental grouP(liraglutide treatment); after 120 hours, the expression of p38MAPK mRNA was examined by RT-PCR and of phosphorylated (p)-p38MAPK protein was detected by western blotting. RESULTS: GLP-1R proteins were detected in the HSCs. Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed significantly decreased p38MAPK mRNA and p-p38MAPK protein (both P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The p38MAPK signaling pathway could be down-regulated when GLP-1R is activated in HSCs.