Different transforming growth factor-B1 induces extracellular matrix production in rat hepatic stellate cells versus hepatic myofibroblasts, but decorin inhibits both

The main pathological feature that leads to human liver disease is the deposition and accumulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Different stimuli might cause liver damage, but the hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are thought to primarily produce the accumulating ECM proteins and in many pathologic conditions the transforming growth factor-B1 has a crucial role. Decorin was reported to act as a natural inhibitory agent of TGF-B1 in experimental glomerulonephritis, but there were limited data in liver disease. We measured the expression and production of a few important extracellular matrix proteins after TGFB1,…