Fig. 7.

Laser scan microscopy detection of apoptosis in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) by the ApoAlert Mitochondrial Membrane Sensor Kit. At days 2 or 7 of primary culture, cells were incubated for 8 h in serum-reduced (0.3% foetal calf serum) culture medium alone, with atorvastatin 10⁻⁷ mol/L, with mevalonic acid 125 μM or with atorvastatin and mevalonic acid. Activated HSCs (d7) treated with atorvastatin, unlike the control and the cells where mevalonate were added, were exhibiting an increase in the green fluorescence owing to the apoptotic changes in the mitochondria. This effect could be inhibited by coadministration of mevalonate. In quiescent HSCs (d2) no significant changes in the fluorescence could be detected among the differently treated cells. We could confirm the data in five independent experiments.