Caffeine-induced inversion of prostaglandin E effects on hepatic stellate cell activation.

Background And Aims: Liver inflammation leads to the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), resulting in the development of liver fibrosis. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of prostaglandin E (PGE), which is biosynthesized by Kupffer cells, hepatocytes, and HSCs during inflammation, on HSC activation, including its combinatory effect with caffeine.

Methods: HSCs isolated from mice were activated by culturing in a medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum for 7 days on plastic plates. The activation of HSCs was evaluated by immunofluorescence of α-smooth muscle actin in HSCs. Comprehensive gene expression analysis was performed using mRNA-sequencing to compare HSCs cultured for 1 or 7 days, with or without PGE, caffeine, or both.

Results: PGE (1 μM) facilitated the activation of HSCs but inhibited the HSC activation in the presence of caffeine (3 mM). Comprehensive gene expression analysis revealed that HSCs treated with PGE in the presence of caffeine were classified in the same class as HSCs cultured for 1 day, i.e., quiescent HSCs. In contrast, PGE did not exhibit an inhibitory effect on HSC activation when co-treated with any isoform-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Although the adenylate cyclase inhibitor 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine suppressed the elevation of intracellular cAMP level induced by PGE in the presence of caffeine, it had no effect on the inhibition of HSC activation by PGE plus caffeine.

Conclusion: The effect of PGE on HSC activation is changed from facilitatory to inhibitory when combined with caffeine, suggesting that caffeine may effectively suppress liver fibrosis during inflammation.