Liver fibrosis is driven by protease-activated receptor-1 expressed by hepatic stellate cells in experimental chronic liver injury.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Blood coagulation protease activity is proposed to drive hepatic fibrosis through activation of protease-activated receptors (PARs). Whole-body PAR-1 deficiency reduces experimental hepatic fibrosis, and in vitro studies suggest a potential contribution by PAR-1 expressed by hepatic stellate cells. However, owing to a lack of specific tools, the cell-specific role of PAR-1 in experimental hepatic fibrosis has never been formally investigated. Using a novel mouse expressing a conditional PAR-1 allele, we tested the hypothesis that PAR-1 expressed by hepatic stellate cells contributes to hepatic fibrosis.

Methods

PAR-1^flox/flox mice were crossed with mice expressing Cre recombinase controlled by the lecithin retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) pr

SUBMITTER: Poole LG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7354391 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature