Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cells Requires Dissociation of E-Cadherin-Containing Adherens Junctions with Hepatocytes

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are resident mesenchymal cells in the space of Disse interposed between liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) and hepatocytes. Thorn-like microprojections, or spines, project out from the cell surface of HSCs, crossing the space of Disse to establish adherens junctions with neighboring hepatocytes. Although HSC activation is initiated largely from stimulation by adjacent cells, isolated HSCs also activate spontaneously in primary culture on plastic. Therefore, other unknown HSC initiating factors apart from paracrine stimuli may promote activation.

Source: American Journal of Pathology - December 23, 2020 Category: Pathology Authors: Hayato Urushima, Hideto Yuasa, Tsutomu Matsubara, Noriyuki Kuroda, Yaiko Hara, Kouji Inoue, Kenjiro Wake, Tetsuji Sato, Scott L. Friedman, Kazuo Ikeda Source Type: research