Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25435153›Full record

ArticleMolecular medicine reports2015

Astragalus and Paeoniae Radix Rubra extract (APE) inhibits hepatic stellate cell activation by modulating transforming growth factor-β/Smad pathway.

Weijuan Huang, Lin Li, Xiaopeng Tian, Jinjin Yan, Xinzheng Yang, Xinlong Wang, Guozhen Liao, Genquan Qiu

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular medicine reports, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.1field-weighted citation impact, top 45% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Weijuan HuangDepartment of Scientific Research, Xi'an Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.
Lin LiDepartment of Scientific Research, Xi'an Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.
Xiaopeng TianState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China.
Jinjin YanDepartment of Pharmacology, Xi'an Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.
Xinzheng YangDepartment of Pharmacology, Xi'an Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.
Xinlong WangDepartment of Scientific Research, Xi'an Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.
Guozhen LiaoDepartment of Scientific Research, Xi'an Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.
Genquan QiuDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiao Tong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.
Xi'an Medical University · CNSun Yat-sen University Cancer Center · CNXi'an Jiaotong University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that Astragalus and Paeoniae Radix Rubra extract (APE) is capable of protecting against liver fibrosis in rats. The hypothesis of the present study was that APE exerts its anti‑fibrotic effect by mediating the transforming growth factor β (TGF‑β)/Smad signaling pathway. In order to investigate this hypothesis, a series of assays were designed to detect the effects of APE on cell proliferation, cell invasion and the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). In addition, the effects of APE on the TGF‑β/Smad signaling pathway were explored, with the aim of elucidating the underlying mechanisms. HSCs were initially isolated from normal rat liver. A number of assays were then employed in order to evaluate the effects of APE on the function of these cells. Cell proliferation was investigated using an MTT assay and cell invasion was observed with the use of transwell invasion chambers. Collagen synthesis was measured with a 3H‑proline incorporation assay and expression of α‑smooth muscle actin was used to determine the extent of HSC activation. Protein expression induced by TGF‑β1 in HSCs was investigated by western blot and immunofluorescence analyses. Plasminogen activator inhibitor type1 (PAI‑1) and urokinase‑type plasminogen activator (uPA) transcriptional activity was measured using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results demonstrated that APE (5‑80 µg/ml) significantly inhibited fetal bovine serum‑induced cell proliferation in a dose‑dependent manner. Cell invasion and activation of HSCs induced by TGF‑β1 were disrupted by treatment with APE in a dose‑dependent manner. TGF‑β1 was observed to increase the phosphorylation of Smad2/3, while APE administered at higher doses produced inhibitory effects on Smad2/3 phosphorylation. In addition, administration of APE abrogated the TGF‑β1‑induced reduction in Smad‑7 expression in a dose‑dependent manner. The results further indicated that APE treatment not only reduced PAI‑1 expression, but also increased uPA expression in a dose‑dependent manner. In conclusion, APE exerted inhibitory effects on cell proliferation, invasion and activation of HSCs, and the mechanisms underlying these effects may involve the TGF‑β1/Smad pathway.

Indexed as

AnimalsAstragalus PlantCell MovementCell ProliferationHepatic Stellate CellsMalePaeoniaPhosphorylationPlant ExtractsPlasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1RatsSignal TransductionSmad ProteinsTransforming Growth Factor betaTransforming Growth Factor beta1Urokinase-Type Plasminogen ActivatorPlant ExtractsPlasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1Smad ProteinsTransforming Growth Factor betaTransforming Growth Factor beta1Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

Identifiers

PMID25435153
PMCPMC4337737
OpenAlexW2156440406

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.