Growth differentiation factor 7 autocrine signaling promotes hepatic progenitor cell expansion in liver fibrosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aim

Liver fibrosis is prevalent among chronic diseases of the liver and represents a major health burden worldwide. Growth differentiation factor 7 (GDF7), a member of the TGFβ protein superfamily, has been recently investigated for its role in repair of injured organs, but its role in chronic liver diseases remains unclear. Here, we examined hepatic GDF7 expression and its association with development and progression of human liver fibrosis. Moreover, we determined the source and target cells of GDF7 in the human liver.

Methods

GDF7 expression was analyzed in fibrotic and healthy human liver tissues by immunohistochemistry and qPCR. Cell-specific accumulation of GDF7 was examined by immunofluorescence through co-staining of cell type-specific markers on forma

SUBMITTER: Kong D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10557292 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature