Chemokine scavenger receptor DARC displays gender-specific effects on intrahepatic expression of inflammatory chemokines in mice and fibrosis in man

Introduction: Macrophage invasion of the liver modulates liver fibrosis in liver disease. MIP-1 the major chemokine of macrophage chemotaxis, plays a central role in macrophage recruitment. MIP-1 levels are genetically determined by variation in the gene encoding the duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC). We hypothesised that the DARC receptor and its genetic variation affects the progression of liver fibrosis and studied the effect on acute and chronic liver injury in DARC deficient mice. Furthermore, we assessed the association of a common DARC variant with liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver…