Fibromodulin, an oxidative stress-sensitive proteoglycan, regulates the fibrogenic response to liver injury in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Collagen I deposition contributes to liver fibrosis, yet little is known about other factors that mediate this process. Fibromodulin is a liver proteoglycan that regulates extracellular matrix organization and is induced by fibrogenic stimuli. We propose that fibromodulin contributes to the pathogenesis of fibrosis by regulating the fibrogenic phenotype of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Methods

We analyzed liver samples from patients with hepatitis C-associated cirrhosis and healthy individuals (controls). We used a coculture model to study interactions among rat HSCs, hepatocytes, and sinusoidal endothelial cells. We induced fibrosis in livers of wild-type and Fmod(-/-) mice by bile duct ligation, injection of CCl(4), or administration of thioacetamide.

SUBMITTER: Mormone E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3800000 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature