OUR GROUP. Transfection of the RXR-alpha gene and treatment with ligand 9-cis-retinoic acid (RA) of PDGF-activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) extended the increased expression of RXR-alpha protein for at least 168 hours. Cell proliferation and expressions of alpha-smooth muscle actin and desmin were blocked, compared with groups of sham-transfected, PDGF-activated, no transfection, no ligand treatment, and irrelevant ligand treated HSCs.
