Activation, Stellate cells leads to Accumulation, Collagen

Up-regulation of collagen synthesis following hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation is among the most striking molecular responses of HSCs to injury and is mediated by both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Activated HSCs do not only proliferate and increase cell number, but also increase collagen production per cell. Synthesis of type I collagen is initiated by expression of the col1a1 and col1a2 genes, giving rise to α 1(I) and α 2(I) procollagen mRNAs in a 2:1 ratio. Upon activation of HSCs and other myofibroblast precursors, there is a > 50-fold increase in α 1(I) procollagen mRNA levels. The half-life of collagen α1(I) mRNA increases 20-fold in activated HSCs compared with quiescent HSCs. Monocytes and macrophages are involved in inflammatory actions by producing large amounts of Nitric oxide (NO) and inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α which have a direct stimulatory effect on HSC collagen synthesis. Synthesis of TGF-α and TGF-β promotes activation of neighbouring quiescent HSCs, whereas the release of HGF (hepatocyte growth factor) stimulates regeneration of adjacent hepatocytes.

The basement membrane-like matrix is normally comprised of collagens IV and VI, which is progressively replaced by collagens I and III and cellular fibronectin during fibrogenesis. Although multiple extracellular matrix (ECM) components are up-regulated, type I collagen is the most abundant protein. These changes in ECM composition initiate several positive feedback pathways that further amplify collagen production. Increasing matrix stiffness is a stimulus for HSC activation and matrix-provoked signals link to other growth factor receptors through integrin-linked kinase and transduce via membrane-bound guanosine triphosphate binding proteins, in particular Rho67 and Rac, signals to the actin cytoskeleton that promote migration and contraction.

The overall amount of collagen deposited by fibroblasts is a regulated balance between collagen synthesis and collagen catabolism. Down-regulated expression of degrading Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and up-regulation of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), MMP- inhibitors, lead to a net decrease in protease activity, and therefore, matrix accumulation. Chronic inflammation, hypoxia and oxidative stress reactivate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) developmental programmes that converge in the activation of NF-kB. Cells that may transdifferentiate into fibrogenic myofibroblasts are hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. Additional sources of ECM include bone marrow (which probably gives rise to circulating fibrocytes) and portal fibroblasts (Benyon and Arthur; 2001; Milani et al., 1994; Safadi and Friedman, 2002; Kolios et al.,2006; Bataller and Brenner, 2005; Lee und Friedman 2011; Guo and Friedman, 2007; Li, Jing-Ting et al., 2008;  Kershenobich Stalnikowitz and Weisssbrod , 2003; López-Novoa and Nieto, 2009; Friedman, 2010; 2008; Dalton et al., 2009; Leung, et al., 2008; Nan et al., 2013;  Hamdy and El-Demerdash, 2012;Li, Li et al., 2012; Natajaran et al., 2006; Luckey and Petersen, 2001;  Chen and Raghunath, 2009;Thompson et al., 2011; Henderson and Iredale, 2007).

no quantitative data

Human: Safadi and Friedman, 2002; Bataller and Brenner, 2005; Lee und Friedman 2011.

Rat: Li, Li et al., 2012; Luckey and Petersen, 2001;  Rockey et al., 1992