Overwhelming high quantities of the matricellular protein CCN1/CYR61 induce ER stress-related cellular apoptosis in hepatic stellate cells

Background: CCN1/CYR61 is a matricellular protein belonging to CCN protein family that contains six secreted proteins associated with extracellular matrix signaling [1]. It acts as an enhancer of cutaneous wound healing process by preventing hypertrophic scar formation through induction of myofibroblast (MFB) senescence [2]. In liver fibrosis, senescent cells are primarily derived from activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC) that initially proliferate in response to liver damage and transdifferentiate into MFB. Activated HSC and transdifferentiated MFB are one major source of CCN1 [3]. Methods: We tested if CCN1…