Extracellular vesicle-dependent crosstalk between hepatic stellate cells and Kupffer cells promotes their mutual activation
In co-culture, KCs and HSCs show mutual activation in a TLR4-dependent fashion. This bidirectional activation is augmented by pro-inflammatory mediators. KC-derived EVs (partially) activate HSCs, which might contribute to progression of liver fibrosis in vivo. Modulating KC activation, such as by blocking TLR4 signaling, may alter EV secretion or cargo composition, reducing HSC activation and fibrosis progression. Targeting this EV-mediated crosstalk could provide novel therapeutic strategies for liver fibrosis.
Authors
- Martin C. Harmsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7128-2741)
- Han Moshage (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4764-0246)
- Manon Buist‐Homan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8171-0797)
- Junyu Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4605-2423)
- Jia Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2652-0034)
Institutions
- University Medical Center Groningen (NL)
- University of Groningen (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease
- Published
- 2025-05-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbadis.2025.167914
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Liver physiology and pathology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.29
Funders
- Stichting De Cock-Hadders
- China Scholarship Council