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Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Development of an Ethanol-induced Fibrotic Liver Model in Zebrafish to Study Progenitor Cell-mediated Hepatocyte Regeneration
Published on: May 13, 2016
[Signal transduction pathway in liver fibrosis regulated by human hepatocyte growth factor]
Hao Liu1, Jing-liang Chen, Guo-an Xiang
1Department of General Surgery, Integrated Traditional and Western Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. i191601714@163.com
Objective:
To explore the changes in the gene expression profiles in HepG2 cells transfected by human hepatocyte growth factor (hHGF) and analyze the signal transduction pathway in liver fibrosis regulated by hHGF.
Method:
A 20,000 gene cDNA microarray (Affymetrix) was used to examine the gene expressions in the HepG2 cells transfected by hHGF. The differentially expressed genes were identified and some genes with possible contribution to hepatic fibrosis were subjected to real-time PCR analysis.
Result:
The differentially expressed genes were mostly transcription regulatory molecules, cytokines, signal transduction, glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism. The results of real-time PCR showed up-regulated STAT1 and MAPK1 expression in the cells as were consistent with genechip analysis results.
Conclusion:
hHGF gene transfection results in the gene expression profile changes in HepG2 cells. HGF may regulate liver fibrosis via the JAK/STAT and MAPK pathways.
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