The ligand-dependent transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is expressed in hepatic stellate cells (HSC), and its transcriptional activity is reduced during cell transdifferentiation in culture. PPARγ transcriptional activation decreases platelet-derived growth factor–induced proliferation and inhibits α-smooth muscle actin expression in cultured HSC. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether oral administration of synthetic PPARγ ligands, thiazolidinediones (TZD), might affect collagen deposition in animal models of liver fibrosis.

The effect of 2 TZD (pioglitazone or rosiglitazone) was tested on liver fibrosis induced in rats by either toxin administration (dimethylnitrosamine or carbon tetrachloride) or bile duct ligation. In vivo PPARγ activation was evaluated by gel shift assay using nuclear extracts from HSC isolated from control and treated rats.

Oral administration of TZD reduced extracellular matrix deposition and HSC activation in both toxic and cholestatic models of liver fibrosis. PPARγ-specific DNA binding was significantly impaired in nuclear extracts of HSC isolated from fibrotic rats compared with HSC from control rats. TZD administration restored PPARγ DNA binding in HSC nuclei. In vitro, TZD-induced PPARγ activation inhibited collagen and fibronectin synthesis induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in human HSC, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Northen blotting. TZD also reduced the TGF-β1–induced activity of a 3.5-kilobase procollagen type I promoter transfected in human HSC.

These findings indicate that PPARγ activation in HSC retards fibrosis in vivo and suggest the use of TZD for the treatment of liver fibrosis.