Abstract: AIM: To develop correct in vitro oxidative stress models of hepatic stellate cells for the analysis of anti-fibrosis drugs.METHODS: Two representative oxidative models in the liver, the iron-overload model and the H₂O₂ model were used to generate different oxidative-stress reactions on the primary rat hepatic stellate cells and the immortal cell line of LX-2 cells. The level of intracellular superoxide was detected using dihydroethidium probe and the proliferation status was tested by crystall violet staining and the MTT assay, respectively.RESULTS: Both the iron-overload model and the H₂O₂ model could generate oxidative reactions in the two kinds of cells. Iron-overload treatment could accelerate the activation of primary hepatic stellate cells, but exerted significant cytotoxicity to LX-2 cells. H₂O₂ led to completely cytotoxicity to both kinds of cells.CONCLUSION: Hepatic stellate cells at different activation phase would have discrepant responses to the stimulation of different oxidation, thus suitable type of cells and appropriate oxidative-stress related models should be chosen in order to analyse the anti-fibrosis drugs meeting with different physiological and pathological requirement.

Key words: Iron-oxidative, Hydrogen peroxide, Oxiditive stress, Hepatic stellate cells, Liver fibrosis