title: Regulation of Hepatic Stellate Cells and Fibrogenesis by Fibroblast Growth Factors.
abstract: Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a family of growth factors critically involved in developmental, physiological, and pathological processes, including embryogenesis, angiogenesis, wound healing, and endocrine functions. In the liver, several FGFs are produced basally by hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Upon insult to the liver, expression of FGFs in HSCs is greatly upregulated, stimulating hepatocyte regeneration and growth. Various FGF isoforms have also been shown to directly induce HSC proliferation and activation thereby enabling autocrine and paracrine regulation of HSC function. Regulation of HSCs by the endocrine FGFs, namely, FGF15/19 and FGF21, has also recently been identified. With the ability to modulate HSC proliferation and transdifferentiation, targeting FGF signaling pathways constitutes a promising new therapeutic strategy to treat hepatic fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
authors.forename: Justin D
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9900-4989
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
authors.forename: Grace L
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2666-0635
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7 / Q000378:metabolism; D051525:Fibroblast Growth Factor 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: C496453:FGF7 protein, human; C496459:FGF9 protein, human; D051525:Fibroblast Growth Factor 9; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C414620:fibroblast growth factor 21; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors