Modulation of fibrogenic factors in hepatic stellate cells by Vitamin D and reduction of Vitamin D in NAFLD patients: Implications for NAFLD therapy

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common hepatopathy and is closely associated with metabolic abnormalities. Patients with advanced liver disease exhibit vitamin-D (VD) deficiency. Our aim was to assess if VD influences primary hepatic stellate cells (HSC) phenotype and function, and possibly modulates NASH-associated fibrogenesis. Methods: Primary human HSCs and LX2 immortalized human HSCs were treated with VD2 (10–6M) for 24h. Expression of α-SMA, COL1A, TGF-β, VDR, MCP-1, and IL-6 were determined by qRT-PCR and Western Blot (α-SMA, VDR). Metabolism of VD2 into 25VD2 was assay…