Illuminating liver fibrosis with vitamin D.

Authors :: Firrincieli D
Braescu T
Housset C
Chignard N
Source :: Clinics and research in hepatology and gastroenterology [Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol] 2014 Feb; Vol. 38 (1), pp. 5-8. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Nov 12.
Publication Year :: 2014
Abstract: Hepatic fibrosis results from the accumulation of extracellular matrix-producing myofibroblasts in the liver. The mechanisms leading to the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into myofibroblasts have been well described. By contrast, few molecular pathways leading to myofibroblast deactivation have been documented. Recently, the vitamin D-VDR axis has been shown to modulate HSC activity through a complex mechanism involving epigenetic modifications induced by the SMAD pathway.<br /> (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)