Hepatic stellate cell

Not to be confused with Hematopoietic stem cells, which also use the acronym HSC.
Hepatic stellate cell

Schematic presentation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) located in the vicinity of adjacent hepatocytes (PC) beneath the sinusoidal endothelial cells (EC). S – liver sinusoids; KC – Kupffer cells. Down left shows cultured HSC at light-microscopy, whereas at down right electron microscopy (EM) illustrates numerous fat vacuoles (L) in a HSC, in which retinoids are stored.

Basic liver structure
Details
Identifiers
Latin cellula perisinusoidalis; cellula accumulans adipem
Code TH H3.04.05.0.00013

Anatomical terminology

Hepatic stellate cells (here HSC), also known as perisinusoidal cells or Ito cells (earlier lipocytes or fat-storing cells), are pericytes found in the perisinusoidal space (a small area between the sinusoids and hepatocytes) of the liver also known as the space of Disse. The stellate cell is the major cell type involved in liver fibrosis, which is the formation of scar tissue in response to liver damage.

Staining

Hepatic stellate cells can be selectively stained with gold chloride, but their distinguishing feature in routine histological preparations is the presence of multiple lipid droplets in their cytoplasm.[1] Cytoglobin expression has been shown to be a specific marker with which hepatic stellate cells can be distinguished from portal myofibroblasts in the damaged human liver.[2] In murine liver, Reelin expressed by Ito cells has been shown to be a reliable marker in discerning them from other myofibroblasts.[3] The expression of reelin is increased after liver injury.

Function

In normal liver, stellate cells are described as being in a quiescent state. Quiescent stellate cells represent 5-8% of the total number of liver cells.[4] Each cell has several long protrusions that extend from the cell body and wrap around the sinusoids. The lipid droplets in the cell body store vitamin A as retinol ester. The function and role of quiescent hepatic stellate cells is unclear. Recent evidence suggests a role as a liver-resident antigen-presenting cell, presenting lipid antigens to and stimulating proliferation of NKT cells.[5]

When the liver is damaged, stellate cells can change into an activated state. The activated stellate cell is characterized by proliferation, contractility, and chemotaxis. The amount of stored vitamin A decreases progressively in liver injury.[1] The activated stellate cell is also responsible for secreting collagen scar tissue, which can lead to cirrhosis.[6] More recent studies have also shown that in vivo activation of hepatic stellate cells by agents causing liver fibrosis can eventually lead to senescence of these cells, marked by increased SA-beta-galactosidase staining, as well as p53 accumulation and activation of Rb–hallmarks of cellular senescence. The senescent hepatic stellate cells have been demonstrated to limit liver fibrosis by activating the immune system by activating interactions with the NK cells.[7]

Eponym

The cells of Ito were named for Toshio Ito, a twentieth-century Japanese physician.[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Stanciu A, Cotutiu C, Amalinei C (2002). "New data about ITO cells". Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 107 (2): 235–239. PMID 12638266.
  2. ↑ Motoyama H (Feb 2014). "Cytoglobin is expressed in hepatic stellate cells, but not in myofibroblasts, in normal and fibrotic human liver.". Lab Invest. 94 (2): 192–207. doi:10.1038/labinvest.2013.135. PMID 24296877.
  3. ↑ Kobold D, Grundmann A, Piscaglia F, Eisenbach C, Neubauer K, Steffgen J, Ramadori G, Knittel T. (2002). "Expression of reelin in hepatic stellate cells and during hepatic tissue repair: a novel marker for the differentiation of HSC from other liver myofibroblasts". J Hepatol 36 (5): 607–13. doi:10.1016/S0168-8278(02)00050-8. PMID 11983443.
  4. ↑ Geerts A (2001). "History, heterogeneity, developmental biology, and functions of quiescent hepatic stellate cells". Semin Liver Dis 21 (3): 311–35. doi:10.1055/s-2001-17550. PMID 11586463.
  5. ↑ Winau F, Hegasy G, Weiskirchen R, et al. (January 2007). "Ito cells are liver-resident antigen-presenting cells for activating T cell responses" 26 (1): 117–29. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2006.11.011. PMID 17239632.
  6. ↑ "mesenchymal stem cell treatments for ischemic kidney disease". Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  7. ↑ Krizhanovsky V, Yon M, Dickins RA, et al. (August 2008). "Senescence of activated stellate cells limits liver fibrosis" 134 (4): 657–67. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2008.06.049. PMC 3073300. PMID 18724938.
  8. ↑ Suematsu M, Aiso S (2001). "Professor Toshio Ito: a clairvoyant in pericyte biology" (PDF). The Keio Journal of Medicine 50 (2): 66–71. PMID 11450594.

External links

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