A Critical Role for the Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier in Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are non-parenchymal cells of the liver that produce the extracellular matrix that forms fibrotic lesions in chronic liver disease, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) catalyzes the transport of pyruvate from the cytosol into the mitochondrial matrix, which is a critical step in pyruvate metabolism. An MPC inhibitor has shown promise as a novel therapeutic for MASH and HSC activation, but a mechanistic understanding of the direct effects of MPC inhibition on HSC activation is lacking.

Methods

Stable lines of LX2 cells expressing short hairpin RNA against MPC2 were established and examined in a series of studies to assess HSC metabolism and activation. Mice w

SUBMITTER: Habibi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12166444 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature