PTEN Overexpression Alters Autophagy Levels and Slows Sodium Arsenite-Induced Hepatic Stellate Cell Fibrosis

Exposure to inorganic arsenic remains a global public health problem. The liver is the main target organ, leading to arsenic-induced liver fibrosis. Phosphatase and tensin homology deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) may participate in arsenic-induced liver fibrosis by regulating autophagy, but the exact mechanisms remain unclear. We established a mouse model of arsenic poisoning through their drinking water and a fibrosis model using the human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 through NaAsO(2) exposure for 24 h. Masson staining measured liver fibrosis. The cells were transfected with a PTEN overexpression plasmid. Western blot and qRT-PCR determined the levels of protein/mRNA expression. Fibrosis was evident in both the mouse model and arsenic-exposed LX-2 cells. NaAsO(2) upregulated expression of autophagic markers microtubule-associated protein light chain A/B (LC3), recombinant human autophagy effector protein (Beclin-1), and hairy and enhancer of split homolog-1 (HES1), but downregulated PTEN. Alongside this, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression was significantly upregulated by NaAsO(2). PTEN overexpression altered NaAsO(2)-induced autophagy and downregulated LC3 and Beclin-1. While Notch1, HES1, α-SMA, and collagen I expression were all downregulated in the NaAsO(2) groups. Therefore, PTEN overexpression might decrease autophagy and inhibit fibrosis progression caused by arsenic, and the NOTCH1/HES1 pathway is likely involved.