A single quantitative trait locus on mouse chromosome 11 modifies in vitro hepatocyte susceptibility to TGF-β and in vivo fibrogenesis following CCl4 injections

Background: Hepatocyte damage triggers the release of cytokines and chemokines, thus initiating wound healing and immune cell recruitment. TGF-β is the central pro-fibrogenic cytokine, and exerts autocrine effects on neighbouring hepatocytes as well as attracting and activating myofibroblasts and macrophages. We speculated that genetic factors causing differenzial sensitivity of hepatocytes to TGF-β signalling may predispose to fibrosis in various aetiologies. Hypothesis: Genetic variants modulating the hepatocellular response to TGF-β induced damage in vitro might underly differenzial susceptibility to fibrogen…