OBJECTIVETo study the effects of endogenous cannabinoid anandamide (AEA) and its putative endocannabinoid receptors (CBR) on the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and to study the role played by AEA during liver fibrosis.

METHODSBy using immunofluorescence and cell culture, the expression of CBR 1 and 2 in the PDGF-stimulated HSCs was investigated. By using PCR and Western-blot, the effects of 10, 20mumol/L AEA and CBR2 antagonist AM630 on the cultured and activated HSC were observed. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and flow cytometry were used to investigate whether AEA induces growth inhibition or apoptosis in the activated HSCs.

RESULTSBoth CBR1 and CBR2 receptors were detectable in cultured HSCs with a higher level of CBR2 than CBR1 (F = 116.797, P less than 0.01). When HSCs were stimulated by PDGF, the expression of CBR2 receptors was significantly enhanced (F = 7.878, P less than 0.05). HSC proliferation was dose-dependently inhibited by 10, 20, and 50micromol/L AEA, with the rates of 7.12%+/-0.34%, 12.52%+/-0.78%, 80.13%+/-1.57% respectively (F = 533.41, P less than 0.01). However, it did not induce apoptosis, but necrosis. The expressions of alpha-SMA, TGFb1, a1(I), a1(III) and TIMP-1 were significantly suppressed by 20micromol/L AEA, but CBR2 antagonist AM630 reversed this suppressor action of AEA.

CONCLUSIONSAEA may inhibit activation and proliferation of HSCs; CBR2 receptors mediate AEA-induced inhibitory action on the activation of HSCs. This CBR2 receptor-mediated action and AEA on HSCs could be used as a therapeutic target against liver fibrosis.