Analysis of antigen-presenting functionality of rat hepatic stellate cells

Introduction: The classical functions of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are fat storage, vitamin A uptake and metabolism [1]. In response to cellular stress, HSCs transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts (MFB) and produce extracellular matrix proteins. Therefore, they have been implicated in the development if liver fibrosis and subsequent cirrhosis [2]. Recent investigations showed the antigen presentation capability of HSC [3–5]. Human and mice HSCs express genes typical for antigen- presenting cells (APC) including major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and the co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86.