Objective: To study the effects of lipid (triglyceride and very low-density lipoprotein) on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) receptors in the hepatic stellate cell (HSC) from the rat liver.
Methods: HSC were isolated and cultured from the liver of Wistar rats by in situ perfusion with pronase and collagenase and density gradient centrifugation with Nycodenz. Radioligand conjugation assay with (125)I-LDL and (125)I-HDL(3) was detected for the effects of lipid on LDL and HDL receptor of HSC.
Results: LDL and HDL receptors were found on the membrane of the rat HSC. The lipid might increase the binding of LDL to LDL receptor, but decrease the binding of HDL(3) to HDL receptor.
Conclusion: LDL and HDL receptors on the HSC membrane may have an important role in the metabolism of lipoprotein and the regulation of cholesterol. These results provided the basis of theory and experimentation for the genesis of fatty liver and liver fibrosis.