Hepatic Stellate Cell: A Double-Edged Sword in the Liver

Abstract

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are located in the space of Disse, between liver sinusoidal endothelia cells (LSECs) andhepatocytes. They have surprised and excited hepatologists fortheir biological characteristics. Under physiological quiescentconditions, HSCs are the major vitamin A-storing cells of the liver,playing crucial roles in the liver development, regeneration, andtissue homeostasis. Upon injury-induced activation, HSCs convertto a pro-fibrotic state, producing the excessive extracellularmatrix (ECM) and promoting angiogenesis in the liverfibrogenesis. Activated HSCs significantly contribute to liverfibrosis progression and inactivated HSCs are key to liver fibrosisregression. In this review, we summarize the comprehensiveunderstanding of HSCs features, including their roles in normalliver and liver fibrosis in hopes of advancing the development ofemerging diagnosis and treatment for hepatic fibrosis