Flavonoids reduce TGF-beta dependent cellular damage in mouse hepatocytes

Synthesis and activation of TGF-β and the resulting signal transduction in liver cells is critically required for progression of chronic liver disease after damage. Its role in activation of hepatic stellate cells and extracellular matrix deposition is well established, whereas not many details are currently known about profibrogenic TGF-β signaling in hepatocytes. TGF-β rapidly induces production of reactive oxygen species and consequently reduces cellular glutathione in primary hepatocytes, which probably represents the damaging effect seen after 72h, when approximately 40% of the cellular lactate dehydrogenas…