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Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Seven Steps to Stellate Cells
Published on: May 10, 2011
Relationship between somatostatin receptors and activation of hepatic stellate cells
Qin Pan1, Ding-Guo Li, Han-Ming Lu
1Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200092, China. fangchunhua@online.sh.cn
Background:
Somafostatin receptors (SSTRs) have been suggested to involve in mediating the effect of somatostatin on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in an activation-dependent way. We, therefore, try to investigate the relationship between expression of SSTRs and activation of rat HSCs.
Methods:
HSCs were isolated from rats by in situ perfusion and single-step density gradient centrifugation. SSTR1-5 mRNA levels in the differentiated first passage HSCs were detected by means of a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. On the other hand, hepatic fibrosis was induced in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by carbon tetrachloride intoxication, and the expression of SSTR1-5 in normal as well as fibrotic livers was measured by immunohistochemical staining.
Results:
SSTR mRNA and SSTR could not be found in freshly isolated rat HSCs or normal rat liver. However, SSTR1-3 mRNA appeared as HSCs became wholly activated, and could also be identified on the membrane of activated HSCs in the perisinusoid space, fibrous septa, etc.
Conclusion:
The expression of SSTR1-3 in the rat HSC is closely related to its activation. This may reflect one of the main negative regulation mechanisms in the course of HSC activation.
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