Increased expression of histone deacetylase 7 during hepatic stellate cell activation promotes pro-fibrogenic gene expression

Recent evidence has highlighted a pathological imbalance in hepatic fibrosis between the acetylation and deacetylation of histone proteins regulated by histone deacetylases (HDACs). However, the role of individual HDACs in liver fibrosis is almost completely unknown. Recently, we identified that HDAC7 can bind to the promotor of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene, and herewith, suppresses the expression of this anti-fibrogenic factor in activated hepatic stellate cells (Hepatology. 2014 Sep;60(3):1066 – 81). The aim of this study was to get further insight into the expression and function of HDAC7 in chroni…