The role of decorin in liver fibrogenesis

Introduction: Accumulation of connective tissue is a typical feature of chronic liver diseases. TGF-β1 is one of the major stimulators of fibrogenesis; therefore, its neutralization is a principal aim in antifibrotic research. Decorin, a small ECM proteoglycan, is capable of regulating connective tissue proliferation by blocking the maturation of collagen fibrils, and by inhibiting TGF-β1. To better understand the role of decorin in liver fibrogenesis, an animal model was created. Methods: Four mouse strain were used with different genetic background. Wild type, decorin KO (dec-/-), TGF-β1 transgenic mice overex…