Abstract: AIM: To investigate the anti-proliferation effect of Artesunate and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 expression in rat hepatic stellate cell stimulated by platelet derived growth factor-BB,and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of Artesunate against hepatic fibrosis.METHODS: HSC cells were treated with PDGF-BB to induce cell proliferation. Artesunate and PD98059 were added respectively in order to study the relationship between the activity of ERK1/2 and proliferation of HSC cells. The cells were divided into control group, PDGF-BB group, PDGF-BB plus Artesunate group, PDGF-BB plus PD98059 group. The proliferation rates of HSC cells with different treatments were detected by CCK-8.Collagen typeⅠsynthesis was detected by ELISA. Activities of ERK1/2 in HSC cells were determined by Western blotting.RESULTS:PDGF-BB increased the proliferation rate and activity of ERK1/2 in HSC cells. PDGF-BB + Art or PDGF-BB +PD98059 decreased the proliferation rate of HSC cells and activity of ERK1/2 in HSC cells.CONCLUSION: The activity of ERK1/2 is involved in the effect of PDGF-BB on HSC cells. Anti-proliferation effect of Artesunate on HSC cells affected by PDGF-BB is related to the decrease in the activity of ERK1/2.

Key words: Artesunate, Hepatic stellate cell, PDGF-BB, ERK1/2, Collagen typeⅠ