Cell type-specific effects on CTGF and PAI–1 expression when glucocorticoids meet TGF-β in primary liver cells

Aims: Glucocorticoids are involved in fundamental cellular functions such as glucose metabolism and cell differentiation. Once bound to their receptor (GR) the glucocorticoid-receptor-complex translocates to the nucleus and binds after dimerization to a cis-active response element in order to regulate target genes. A pivotal process in liver fibrosis is the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and the production of extracellular matrix (ECM), which is triggered by TGF-β. TGF-β binds and phosphorylates transmembrane receptors, which in turn propagate the signal via Smads into the nucleus in order to regulat…