title: Hepatic stellate cells: role in microcirculation and pathophysiology of portal hypertension.
abstract: Accumulating evidence suggests that stellate cells are involved in the regulation of the liver microcirculation and portal hypertension. Activated hepatic stellate cells have the necessary machinery to contract or relax in response to a number of vasoactive substances. Because stellate cells play a role in both fibrosis and portal hypertension, they are currently regarded as therapeutic targets to prevent and treat the complications of chronic liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Molecular Liver Cell Biology, Free University Brussels (VUB), Brussels, Belgium. Hendrik.Reynaert@az.vub.ac.be
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reynaert
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geerts
mesh_terms: D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008102:Liver Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents