Crosstalk Between PDGF and IGF-I Receptors in Rat Liver Myofibroblasts: Implication for Liver Fibrogenesis

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) have been identified as significant mitogens for liver myofibroblasts (LMFs), one of the cell populations playing a role in liver fibrogenesis. In the present work we aimed to elucidate a possible interaction between PDGF receptor (PDGFR) and IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) signaling in LMFs. Among different rat liver cells, PDGFR alpha- and beta-subunits were mainly expressed in hepatic stellate cells and LMFs, and were up-regulated during their in vitro cultivation. PDGF-BB (10 ng/mL) stimulated DNA synthesis approximately two-fold in LMFs…