Abstract: AIM: To investigate the role of acid-sensing ion channel 1α in acid-induced activation of Hepatic stellate cells.METHODS: HSC-T6 cells were incubated in different pH medium without or with amiloride or psalmotoxin1 for 3 hours, which were non-specific or specific blockers of ASIC1α, respectively. Cell cytotoxicity was measured by Lactate Dehydrogenase Release Assay Kit and the mRNA expressions of ASIC1α was detected through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The mRNA and protein expression of Calpain and Calcineurin in different group were detected by RT-PCR or Western Blot.RESULTS: The cytotoxicity of the HSC-T6 cells was increased by extracellular acidosis with both pH 6.5, pH 6.0 and pH 5.5 condition, and the cytotoxicity was decreased by non-specific and specific blockers of ASIC1α. As the pH declined, the mRNA expression of ASIC1α increased gradually. Compared with that incubated in pH 7.4 medium, the protein and mRNA expression of Calpain and Calcineurin in HSCs with acidification medium (pH 6.0) was significantly increased. Amiloride and PcTx-1 could both remarkably decrease the expression of Calpain and Calcineurin. ASIC1a inhibitors can also reduce the expression of α-SMA.CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated that ASIC1a is involved in acid-induced activation of hepatic stellate cells.

Key words: acid-sensing ion channel 1a, hepatic stellate cells, activation