LPS and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-9 regulate the hepatocytes acute phase response by affecting hepatic stellate cells

Under conditions of liver damage (bacterial overgrowth in the gut but also damage induced by CCl4 injection or during regeneration after partial hepatectomy), LPS levels are elevated and lead to induction of the inflammatory response (= acute phase response; APR) in hepatocytes. BMP-9, a member of the TGF-β family of cytokines, is produced in the liver and we found that it has rather maturation inducing effects there, like enhanced polarization, inhibited proliferation and strengthened metabolic activity of hepatocytes. We further observed that the main BMP-9 producing cell type in the liver is the hepatic stell…