Cholestatic liver fibrosis is caused by obstruction of the biliary tract and is associated with early activation of portal fibroblasts (PFs) that express Thy-1, fibulin 2, and the recently identified marker mesothelin (MSLN). Here, we have demonstrated that activated PFs (aPFs) and myofibroblasts play a critical role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation (BDL). Conditional ablation of MSLN+ aPFs in BDL-injured mice attenuated liver fibrosis by approximately 50%. Similar results were observed in MSLN-deficient mice (
Yukinori Koyama, Ping Wang, Shuang Liang, Keiko Iwaisako, Xiao Liu, Jun Xu, Mingjun Zhang, Mengxi Sun, Min Cong, Daniel Karin, Kojiro Taura, Chris Benner, Sven Heinz, Tapan Bera, David A. Brenner, Tatiana Kisseleva
Regulation of FGF signaling pathways in WT aPFs.