Article
Immunology
Akouavi Julite I. Quenum, Akhil Shukla, Fjolla Rexhepi, Maryse Cloutier, Amit Ghosh, Thomas A. Kufer, Sheela Ramanathan, Subburaj Ilangumaran
Summary: NLRC5 deficiency disrupts hepatic inflammatory response following chemical injury, but does not significantly aggravate the fibrogenic response. Increased phosphorylation of the NF-kappa B subunit p65 was observed in fibrotic livers of NLRC5-deficient mice, indicating that NLRC5 is not a critical regulator of liver fibrosis pathogenesis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Leke Wiering, Pallavi Subramanian, Linda Hammerich
Summary: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease with a wide range of severity, from simple hepatic steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH can lead to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, making hepatic fibrosis an important predictor of outcomes. Recent advancements in understanding the activation and inactivation of hepatic stellate cells, which drive fibrosis development, have shed light on the disease progression in NAFLD/NASH.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aiting Yang, Xuzhen Yan, Hufeng Xu, Xu Fan, Mengyang Zhang, Tao Huang, Weiyu Li, Wei Chen, Jidong Jia, Hong You
Summary: The deficiency of HSCs-specific Loxl1 can prevent CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis and reduce fibrosis and inflammation in liver tissue, with ITGA8/FAK/PI3K/AKT/HIF1a being essential for the function and expression of LOXL1. The study suggests novel mechanisms and potential targets for the treatment of fibrosis in the future.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mahmoud A. Younis, Yusuke Sato, Yaser H. A. Elewa, Hideyoshi Harashima
Summary: This article reports a novel strategy for treating liver fibrosis by reprogramming activated Hepatic Stellate Cells (aHSCs) into quiescent Hepatic Stellate Cells (qHSCs) using siRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). The optimized LNPs enable ligand-free, selective, and potent siRNA delivery to aHSCs, resulting in the reversal of liver fibrosis and restoration of normal liver function in mice. This scalable and ligand-free platform has potential for clinical translation.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Shiqin Luo, Yuping Yang, Ting Zhao, Rongping Zhang, Changlong Fang, Yan Li, Zhirong Zhang, Tao Gong
Summary: Activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) play a critical role in liver fibrosis. The study introduces a nano platform called silibinin albumin nanocrystals (SLB-HSA NCs) for targeted therapy of liver fibrosis. The SLB-HSA NCs demonstrated a uniform particle size distribution of approximately 60 nm, high loading efficiency, and increased cellular uptake by aHSCs through SPARC-mediated endocytosis. In pharmacokinetic study, SLB-HSA NCs exhibited enhanced bioavailability compared with free SLB. Furthermore, they showed significant antifibrotic effects in hepatic fibrosis mice.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tian-tian Sun, Xu-ling Liu, Guang-yue Yang, Wei Zhang, Le Tao, Wen-ting Ma, Liu Wu, Qigen Li, Cheng Liu
Summary: This study found that patients with hepatic fibrosis had significantly higher levels of neurokines, and that hepatic stellate cells interact with nerves to produce neurogenic substances that promote liver fibrosis.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tian-Tian Sun, Xu-Ling Liu, Guang-Yue Yang, Wei Zhang, Le Tao, Wen-Ting Ma, Liu Wu, Qigen Li, Cheng Liu
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the changes in nerve factors and neurokines and their relation to hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in liver fibrosis. The results showed significantly increased expression levels of neurokines in both human and animal liver fibrosis. It was also observed that there is interaction between nerve cells and HSCs, and nerve cells produce neurogenic substances that promote liver fibrosis and HSC activation.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maximilian Schinagl, Tamara Tomin, Juergen Gindlhuber, Sophie Honeder, Raphael Pfleger, Matthias Schittmayer, Michael Trauner, Ruth Birner-Gruenberger
Summary: This study investigated the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) through an increase in growth medium serum concentration, revealing cellular processes involved in HSC transformation. Activated HSC showed increased production of ribosomal proteins and proteins related to migration and cell cycle control, along with a decrease in cholesterol and fatty acid biosynthesis proteins. The findings provide insights into HSC activation characteristics and present a accessible model for studying HSC activation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Dakota R. Kamm, Kyle S. McCommis
Summary: Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play critical roles in the normal liver and in response to injury. They are activated during liver injury and produce extracellular matrix in liver fibrosis. In the absence of injury, HSCs are in a quiescent state and store retinoids or vitamin A-containing metabolites. They also enhance the inflammatory response and express growth factors crucial for liver development and regeneration. Recent studies have identified diverse phenotypic alterations and unique subpopulations of HSCs.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mahmoud A. Younis, Yusuke Sato, Yaser H. A. Elewa, Yasuhiro Kon, Hideyoshi Harashima
Summary: In this study, a platform for selective delivery of mRNA to hard-to-transfect aHSCs was developed using microfluidic technology and pH-sensitive lipids. The lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) were optimized for efficient and safe mRNA delivery, and a promising lipid candidate CL15A6 was identified. The LNPs demonstrated ligand-free mRNA delivery to aHSCs in vivo, with high biosafety at high mRNA doses, and the uptake mechanism was found to be Clathrin-mediated endocytosis through PDGFR beta. This scalable platform holds great promise for clinical applications.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Yufei Liu, Yuhong Zheng, Yang Yang, Ke Liu, Jianying Wu, Peiyang Gao, Chuantao Zhang
Summary: Liver fibrosis is a global health problem resulting from chronic liver injury. Hepatic stellate cells play a major role in liver fibrosis, and their transdifferentiation into myofibroblasts is triggered by pathological stimuli. The interactions between HSCs, immune cells, and cytokines are critical for the progression of liver fibrosis. Exosomes, as essential mediators of intercellular communication, regulate the activation of HSCs and the interaction between HSCs and immune cells in liver fibrosis. They also hold potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for liver fibrosis treatment.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Ye Tao, Tianming Qiu, Xiaofeng Yao, Liping Jiang, Ningning Wang, Jintong Jiang, Xue Jia, Sen Wei, Jingyuan Zhang, Yuhan Zhu, Wenyue Tian, Guang Yang, Xiaofang Liu, Shuang Liu, Yang Ding, Xiance Sun
Summary: Liver fibrosis is a significant global health issue characterized by HSCs activation and collagen deposition, which can be induced by arsenic exposure leading to ROS generation and IRE1α/NOX4 pathway activation.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Qiu-Ju Han, Yong-Liang Mu, Hua-Jun Zhao, Rong-Rong Zhao, Quan-Juan Guo, Yu-Hang Su, Jian Zhang
Summary: Fasudil effectively protects against TAA-induced liver injury by decreasing collagen deposition and inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells. Additionally, it activates NK cells both in vivo and in vitro, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis.
WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Junfu Fan, Gaozan Tong, Xixi Chen, Santie Li, Ying Yu, Shunan Zhu, Kunxuan Zhu, Zijing Hu, Yonggan Dong, Rui Chen, Junjie Zhu, Wenjie Gong, Zhicheng Hu, Bin Zhou, Yiming Chen, Litai Jin, Weitao Cong
Summary: CK2 activation is critical for sustaining the activated and fibrogenic phenotype of HSCs by stabilizing SMO. Inactivation of CK2 may be of therapeutic interest for liver fibrotic diseases.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hao Shen, Han Yu, Qian-yu Li, Ya-ting Wei, Jing Fu, Hui Dong, Dan Cao, Lin-na Guo, Lei Chen, Yuan Yang, Ying Xu, Meng-chao Wu, Hong-yang Wang, Yao Chen
Summary: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The progression from NAFLD to HCC involves paracrine communication among hepatic cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) plays a crucial role in NAFLD and HCC, but its cellular communication in the transition from NAFLD to HCC is still unclear.
ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA
(2022)