Casu A, Canepa M, Nanni G
Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università di Genova.
Pathologica. 1994 Oct;86(5):467-99.
In this review on stellate cells, discovered by Kupffer more than 100 years ago, morphological and ultrastructural aspects, origin and differentiation are described through also a comparative analysis in some animal species. Many methods used from different laboratories for isolation, identification and in vitro culture of these heterogeneous cells are reported and discussed regarding advantages and disadvantages. The normal Ito cells functions, that are metabolism and storage of vitamin A, extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis under cytokines control, and sinusoidal tonus through its reversible contraction are discussed. Then an update description is reported about fibrogenesis and all the factors involved in liver fibrosis, from cytokines to the adhesion molecules. Stellate cells being the main source of ECM in chronic liver injury, can play different and primary roles by shifting its functions toward fibrosis. The role of metalloproteinases and their inhibitors on the balance of the ECM synthesis and degradation are also evaluated. When liver is injured, Ito cells became activated and change their phenotype from fat-storing cells to cells to cell devoid of retonoid droplets. They express the smooth muscle-like features, including a-SM-actin. The role of vitamin A in liver fibrosis is not yet clear: current data and hypothesis about this topic are discussed. Contractile behaviour of the perisinusoidal stellate cells seems also important in influencing portal blood pressure during fibrosis and cirrhosis. Diagnostic methods for hepatic fibrosis and Ito cells activation are also briefly reported. The review is supplied with more than three hundred references updated to August 1994.
在这篇关于星状细胞的综述中（星状细胞由库普弗在100多年前发现），通过对一些动物物种的比较分析，描述了其形态学和超微结构特征、起源及分化。报告并讨论了不同实验室用于分离、鉴定和体外培养这些异质性细胞的多种方法及其优缺点。探讨了正常肝贮脂细胞的功能，即维生素A的代谢与储存、在细胞因子控制下的细胞外基质（ECM）合成以及通过其可逆收缩维持窦状隙张力。接着报告了关于肝纤维化形成及所有参与肝纤维化的因素（从细胞因子到黏附分子）的最新描述。星状细胞作为慢性肝损伤中ECM的主要来源，通过将其功能转向纤维化可发挥不同的主要作用。还评估了金属蛋白酶及其抑制剂在ECM合成与降解平衡中的作用。肝脏受损时，肝贮脂细胞被激活，其表型从贮脂细胞转变为不含类维生素A脂滴的细胞。它们表现出平滑肌样特征，包括α - 平滑肌肌动蛋白。维生素A在肝纤维化中的作用尚不清楚：讨论了关于该主题的现有数据和假说。肝窦周星状细胞的收缩行为在纤维化和肝硬化过程中对门静脉血压的影响似乎也很重要。还简要报告了肝纤维化和肝贮脂细胞激活的诊断方法。这篇综述提供了截至1994年8月更新的三百多篇参考文献。
