In hepatocytes TGF-β induces Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)

Introduction: Chronic intoxication of the liver with alcohol or hepatotoxic viruses is known to induce liver fibrosis which progresses to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. During fibrogenesis liver cells, especially activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) release the pro-fibrogenic cytokine TGF-β and we have previously shown that general hepatic overexpression of the TGF-β antagonist Smad7 abrogates development of experimentally induced fibrosis and inhibits activation of HSCs in vitro. Aims: To investigate TGF-β signal transduction especially in hepatocytes. Methods: We studied primary mouse hepatocytes an…