Epiregulin (EREG) and Myocardin Related Transcription Factor A (MRTF-A) Form a Feedforward Loop to Drive Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation.

ABSTRACT: Trans-differentiation of quiescent hepatic stellate cells (HSC) into myofibroblast cells is considered the linchpin of liver fibrosis. A myriad of signaling pathways contribute to HSC activation and consequently liver fibrosis. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of cytokines signal through the cognate receptor EGFR to promote HSC activation. In the present study we investigated the transcription regulation of epiregulin (EREG), an EGFR ligand, during HSC activation. We report that EREG expression was significantly up-regulated in activated HSCs compared to quiescent HSCs isolated from mice. In addition, there was an elevation of EREG expression in HSCs undergoing activation in vitro. Of interest, deficiency of myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A), a well-documented re

SUBMITTER: Wu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7843934 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature