Reduced metallothionein expression induced by Zinc deficiency results in apoptosis in hepatic stellate cell line LX-2.

The present study is to investigate the molecular mechanism by which Zinc (Zn) deficiency induces apoptosis in hepatic stellate cells. LX-2 cells were incubated with N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (TPEN; 5 μM, 10 μM and 25 μM) for 24 h. MTT assay was used to test the proliferation ability of LX-2 cells.