The impact of TGF-β and S1P on the cellular localization of the LIM domain proteins CRP2 and FHL2 in LX-2 cells

Background: CRP2 and FHL2 belong to the superfamily of LIM-domain proteins that are characterized by a special arrangement of zinc-fingers that are necessary for protein-protein interactions [1]. CRP2 has two and FHL2 has four and a half LIM domains. They are implicated in wound healing and assembly of extracellular matrix proteins [2]. In the liver, the expression of CRP2 and FHL2 is restricted to HSC. The main aim of the present investigation is to identify the signalling pathways that drive the expression of the respective genes in the process of transdifferentation and to analyse if this expression or the cellular localisation of these LIM domain proteins is modulated by TGF-β or Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P).