肝星状细胞的免疫学特性

Immunological characteristics of hepatic stellate cells

活化的肝星状细胞(hepatic stellate cells,HSCs)可合成大量细胞外基质(extracellular matrix,ECM),并可分泌转化生长因子β(transforming growth factor-β,TGF-β)、血小板源性生长因子(platelet derived growth factor,PDGF)等促纤维化因子,在肝纤维化的发生发展中起着关键作用。近来研究发现活化的肝星状细胞具有多种免疫细胞的特性,可直接参与肝脏局部免疫调控,而免疫因素在肝纤维化发病机制中占据着重要地位,因此深刻认识肝星状细胞的免疫学特征有助于进一步阐明肝纤维化的发病机制。

Activated hepatic stellate cells（HSCs） play a critical role in the progression of liver fibrosis through massive production of extracellular matrix（ECM） and profibrotic cytokines such as transforming growth factor β（TGF-β） and platelet derived growth factor（PDGF）.Recently,some researches have confirmed that activated HSCs behave as immunocytes and are directly involved in local immune modulation.As immune factors greatly influence the process of human hepatic fibrosis,research on the immunological characteristics of HSCs will be very helpful in further clarifying the pathogenesis of this chronic and progressive disease.