The megalin/gp330 receptor is involved in the capability of hepatic stellate cells to bind and internalize vitamin D binding protein (Gc-globulin)

Aims: Vitamin D binding protein (DBP) is a highly expressed, multifunctional and polymorphic serum protein, which also serves as the major transporter for vitamin D sterols. The present study was performed to analyze the pathophysiological interaction between DBP and hepatocytes (PC) or hepatic stellate cells (HSC), the most important fat-/retinol- storing cells in the liver that spontaneously transdifferentiate to myofibroblasts (MFB) in culture. Methods: HSC and PC were isolated by the pronase/collagenase reperfusion method. DBP expression was monitored by immunocytochemistry, Western blots, RT-PCR, and metabo…