Id1 as a target gene of profibrogenic TGF-beta signaling in hepatic stellate cells

The majority of chronic liver diseases are caused by alcohol and hepatotoxic viruses. These noxes lead to damage of liver cells and release of transforming factor beta (TGF-β), which plays a critical role in activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) in vitro and in vivo, the cell type responsible for production of extracellular matrix components. Main focus of our team is to identify details of profibrogenic TGF-β signaling and to suppress TGF-β effects leading to fibrosis. Overexpression of Smad7, an intracellular antagonist of TGF-β, significantly inhibited transdifferentiation of HSC, „freezing“ the cells in…