Mechanistic and therapeutic implications of PDGF-b activation during liver fibrogenesis

The role of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family for the perpetuation of liver fibrogenesis and stellate cell activation is well documented. Increasing PDGF-b levels are observed in patients with severe liver fibrosis. We have recently demonstrated that forced expression of PDGF-b in hepatocytes results in spontaneous liver fibrosis, but the exact molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways remain unknown. The goal of this study was to dissect the role of PDGF-b by using whole transcriptomic time-course analysis to identify potential therapeutic targets for liver fibrosis. PDGF-b transgenic (Tg) and Alb-…