Atrophin 2 expression in chronic liver disease functionally affects activated hepatic stellate cells

Atrophin proteins have first been identified in dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy. Atrophin family proteins have been identified as nuclear receptor corepressors. Atrophins are involved in the regulation of various biological processes including migration and orientation, and altered atrophin expression has been shown in neurodegenerative disease and cancer. Atrophin2 (ATN2) has critical functions in normal mouse embryonic development whereas Atrophin1 is dispensable. The role of atrophins in healthy and diseased liver is unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression and function of ATN2 in chr…