Hypoxia Stimulates Hepatocyte Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition by Hypoxiainducible Factor- and Transforming Growth Factor-β-dependent Mechanisms

摘要

Background/AimsDuring development of liver fibrosis, an important source of myofibroblasts is hepatocytes, which differentiate into myofibroblasts by epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). In epithelial tumors and kidney fibrosis, hypoxia, through activation of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), is an important stimulus of EMT. Our recent studies demonstrated that HIF-1α is important for the development of liver fibrosis. Accordingly, the hypothesis was tested that hypoxia stimulates hepatocyte EMT by a HIF-dependent mechanism.