Protective action of hepatocyte growth factor on transforming growth factor β-1-induced α-smooth muscle actin and extracellular matrix in cultured human peritoneal fibroblasts

Background: Peritoneal adhesion is the leading cause of severe mechanical bowel obstruction, female infertility, pelvic pain, and difficult surgical procedures. TGF-beta 1 plays an important role in matrix production associated with postoperative peritoneal adhesion development. Recent investigators have shown that HGF works on several organs and has been given widespread attention because it has proved to have strong antifibrotic activity. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of HGF on markers of adhesion formation induced by TGF-beta 1 in human peritoneal fibroblasts. Material/Methods: Fibroblasts were collected from normal peritoneum and were cultured with 5 ng/ml of TGF-beta 1 along with increasing doses of HGF (10-40 ng/ml). Expression of alpha-SMA was assessed by Western blot. The productions of collagen I and fibronectin in supernatants culture were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: TGF-beta 1 significantly stimulated alpha-SMA, collagen I and fibronectin production in peritoneal fibroblasts. Remarkably, the addition of HGF reduced production of all components induced by TGF-beta 1 in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: This study suggests that HGF may be a novel, highly efficacious agent in the minimization of intra-abdominal adhesion. Although further studies are needed to assess the mechanisms of HGF in neutralizing the effect of TGF-beta 1, these findings also provide a cellular and molecular basis for the action of HGF as an anti-adhesion agent.