Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide regulated hepatic stellate cells activation and liver fibrosis by inhibiting the SMO/Gli 1 pathway

Liver fibrosis is a result of chronic liver disease; without treatment, it can progress to cirrhosis and even liver cancer. The occurrence and development of liver fibrosis is closely related to the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Many events, including induction of the hedgehog signal and angiogenesis, occur during HSCs activation. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) acts as a critical regulator of HSCs activation. We found that Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP) markedly reduced the level of hepatic fibrosis in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-treated rats and TGF-β-stimulated HSC-T6 cells. DOP significantly inhibited smooth (SMO) protein expression and Gli1 transcription into the nucleus. Moreover, DOP inhibited the expression of angiogenesis-related proteins and angiogenesis markers. In conclusion, our results indicated that DOP might ameliorate CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and TGF-β-induced HSC-T6 cells activation by the SMO/Gli 1 pathway, suggesting that DOP could be used as a potential functional food.