Activin A plays an essential role in migration and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells via Smad3 and calcium signaling.

ABSTRACT: Activin A and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are involved in tissue repair and fibrosis in liver injury. This study investigated the impact of activin A on HSC activation and migration. A microfluidic D⁴-chip was used for examining the cell migration of mouse hepatic stellate cell line MHSteC. The analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed that activin βA (Inhba), activin receptor type 1A (Acvr1a) and type 2A (Acvr2a) mRNAs were more significantly expressed in human HSCs than in the hepatocytes. Moreover, activin A promoted MHSteC proliferation and induced MHSteC migration. Furthermore, the MHSteCs treated with activin A exhibited increased levels of migration-related proteins, N-cadherin, Vimentin, α-SMA, MMP2 and MMP9, but a decreased level of E-cadherin. Additionally,

SUBMITTER: Zhang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11369249 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature