Expression of mRNAs related to connective tissue metabolism in rat hepatic stellate cells and myofibroblasts

Abstract

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and liver myofibroblasts (MFB) are two cell populations most likely responsible for the synthesis of most connective tissue components in fibrotic liver. Normal and carbon tetrachloride-cirrhotic livers from rats were used to prepare HSC.

Liver was perfused with pronase and collagenase solutions, followed by centrifugation of the cell suspension on a density gradient. HSC were quiescent 2 days after plating on plastic but they became activated after another 5 days in culture.

When the culture was passaged 5 times, its character changed profoundly as HSC were replaced by MFB. Microarray analysis was used to determine gene expression in quiescent HSC, activated HSC and MFB.

The expression of 49 genes coding for connective tissue proteins, proteoglycans, metalloproteinases and their inhibitors, growth factors and cellular markers was determined in quiescent HSC, activated HSC and MFB.