Clinic of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstraße 5, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
Biol Chem. 2021 May 19;402(9):1021-1032. doi: 10.1515/hsz-2021-0180. Print 2021 Aug 26.
This review article summarizes 20 years of our research on hepatic stellate cells within the framework of two collaborative research centers CRC575 and CRC974 at the Heinrich Heine University. Over this period, stellate cells were identified for the first time as mesenchymal stem cells of the liver, and important functions of these cells in the context of liver regeneration were discovered. Furthermore, it was determined that the space of Disse - bounded by the sinusoidal endothelium and hepatocytes - functions as a stem cell niche for stellate cells. Essential elements of this niche that control the maintenance of hepatic stellate cells have been identified alongside their impairment with age. This article aims to highlight previous studies on stellate cells and critically examine and identify open questions and future research directions.
这篇综述文章总结了我们在 Heinrich Heine 大学两个合作研究中心 CRC575 和 CRC974 的框架内，20 年来对肝星状细胞的研究。在此期间，肝星状细胞首次被确定为肝脏的间充质干细胞，并发现了这些细胞在肝再生过程中的重要功能。此外，还确定了由窦内皮细胞和肝细胞围成的 Disse 间隙作为肝星状细胞的干细胞龛。控制肝星状细胞维持的这个龛的基本要素已被确定，同时还确定了其随年龄增长而受损的情况。本文旨在强调以前关于肝星状细胞的研究，并批判性地检查和确定当前的问题和未来的研究方向。
