Expression of cytoskeletal proteins in hepatic stellate cells isolated from normal and cirrhotic rat liver

Abstract

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are located in Disse spaces of normal rat liver. In fibrotic liver they become activated, proliferate and they undergo transdifferentiation into myofibroblast-like cells.

Changes in the cell phenotype are accompanied by changes in the cellular cytoskeleton. We have studied the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin and intermediate filament proteins vimentin, desmin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) by immunocytochemistry in HSC cultured for 2 or 7 days after isolation.

HSC were isolated from normal or CCl4-cirrhotic rat liver.