3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (“Ecstasy”) Stimulates the Expression of α1(I) Procollagen mRNA in Hepatic Stellate Cells

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA (“Ecstasy”), has been previously shown to produce cell necrosis and fibrosis in the liver. Our aim was to study the effect of MDMA on the type I collagen production by a cell line of hepatic stellate cells (HSC), the cell type mainly responsible for collagen s...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemical and biophysical research communications 1999-06, Vol.259 (3), p.678-682
Main Authors: Varela-Rey, M., Montiel-Duarte, C., Beitia, G., Cenarruzabeitia, E., Iraburu, M.J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
glutathione
hepatic stellate cells
liver fibrosis
MDMA
type I collagen
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA (“Ecstasy”), has been previously shown to produce cell necrosis and fibrosis in the liver. Our aim was to study the effect of MDMA on the type I collagen production by a cell line of hepatic stellate cells (HSC), the cell type mainly responsible for collagen synthesis in the liver. We demonstrated that MDMA increases α1(I) procollagen mRNA levels and that this increase correlates with glutathione depletion and enhanced hydrogen peroxide production by HSC. Pre-treatment with either glutathione monoethyl ester or deferoxamine prevents the MDMA-induced α1(I) procollagen mRNA expression, indicating oxidative stress to be a mediator of this effect. Lipid peroxidation was not detected in MDMA-treated cells and therefore does not seem to be involved in the pro-fibrogenic action of MDMA on HSC.
ISSN:0006-291X
1090-2104
DOI:10.1006/bbrc.1999.0803