title: Role of ethanol in the regulation of hepatic stellate cell function.
abstract: Evidence has accumulated to suggest an important role of ethanol and/or its metabolites in the pathogenesis of alcohol-related liver disease. In this review, the fibrogenic effects of ethanol and its metabolites on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are discussed. In brief, ethanol interferes with retinoid metabolism and its signaling, induces the release of fibrogenic cytokines such as transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFbeta-1) from HSCs, up-regulates the gene expression of collagen I and enhances type I collagen protein production by HSCs. Ethanol further perpetuates an activated HSC phenotype through extracellular matrix remodeling. The underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms by which ethanol exerts these pro-fibrogenic effects on HSCs are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Storr Liver Unit, Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia. jianhua_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Jian-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Robert-G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Batey
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012176:Retinoids / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D012176:Retinoids; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000431:Ethanol; D003094:Collagen