フィブロネクチンフラグメントによるラット肝伊東細胞の活性化制御

概要

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Hepatic Ito(stellate)cells represent the quiescent phenotype(i.e. many lipid droplets, low proliferative activity)in healthy liver. During chronic inflammation of the liver, Ito cells acquire the activated phenotype characterized by loss of lipid droplets, high proliferative ability, expressed a-smooth muscle(SM)actin, and highly increased production of fibrous extracellular matrix(ECM)proteins. Therefore, Ito cells have been considered to play a central role in pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. In order to explore endogenous factors to control the phenotypic activation of Ito cells, we established an in vitro culture system of Ito cells, in which primary and subcultured Ito cells represented typical properties of the quiescent and active phenotypes, respectively. Using these two types of cultured Ito cells, here we showed that a proteolytic fragment derived from the heparin-binding domain of FN(30kDa Hep2 fragment)was capable of suppressing the phenotypic activation of primary Ito cells, as judged by consumption of vitamin A-containing lipid droplets, low proliferative ability, and decreased expression of a-SM actin. Further study should be required to define effects of the Hep2 fragment on the production of fibrous ECM proteins by Ito cells.
日本結合組織学会の論文
1998-12-25