Expression and TGF-beta modulation of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in hepatic stellate cells and hepatocytes

Background: CTGF, a heparin binding 38 kd cysteine-rich peptide is well known as a secreted, TGF-β regulated down-stream TGF-β effector molecule, which is strongly expressed in fibrotic liver tissue, especially in fibrogenic hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and myofibroblasts (MFB). CTGF is suggested to play an important role as a positive trap for TGF-β by facilitating its receptor binding and as a negative trap for BMP7, thus, contributing extracellularly to a functional imbalance in favour of fibrogenesis. Aim of the present study was (i) to analyze CTGF expression and regulation in HSC and hepatocytes (PC) and (ii) to test a potential modulation of TGF-β signaling by CTGF in HSC.