The impact of the reactive oxygen species scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine for PDGF-BB signaling in cultured hepatic stellate cells

Aims: Oxidative stress is important in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis through its induction of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) proliferation and enhancement of collagen synthesis [1, 2]. Reactive oxygen species have been found to be essential second messengers in the signaling of both major fibrotic growth factors, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), in cultured HSC and liver fibrosis. The non-toxic aminothiol N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) inhibits cellular activation and attenuates experimental fibrosis in liver. We have previously shown that NAC is capable of reducing th…