Apolipoprotein L2's Role in Liver Fibrosis

Apolipoprotein L2 (APOL2) was recently reported to promote liver fibrosis upon transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β) stimulation of human hepatic stellate cells.1 The use of the potent antiliver fibrosis lead compound 12-deoxyphorbol 13-palmitate (DP) allowed the identification of APOL2 as the specific target. The key involvement of APOL2 in fibrosis was confirmed following experimental ablation of either APOL2 in human hepatic cells or the putative APOL2 ortholog apolipoprotein L8 (APOL8) in mice.