Stellate cell-specific adhesion molecule protocadherin 7 regulates sinusoidal contraction.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Sustained inflammation and hepatocyte injury in chronic liver disease activate HSCs to transdifferentiate into fibrogenic, contractile myofibroblasts. We investigated the role of protocadherin 7 (PCDH7), a cadherin family member not previously characterized in the liver, whose expression is restricted to HSCs.

Approach and results

We created a PCDH7 fl/fl mouse line, which was crossed to lecithin retinol acyltransferase-Cre mice to generate HSC-specific PCDH7 knockout animals. HSC contraction in vivo was tested in response to the HSC-selective vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 using intravital multiphoton microscopy. To establish a PCDH7 null HSC line, cells were isolated from PCDH7 fl/fl mice and infected with adenovirus-expressing Cre. Hepatic expression of

SUBMITTER: Carter JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11605774 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature