Hepatic stellate cells are the major source of the extracellular matrix that accumulates in
fibrotic liver. During progressive liver fibrosis, hepatic stellate cells proliferate, but during
resolution of fibrosis there is extensive stellate cell apoptosis that coincides with degradation
of the liver scar. We have examined the possibility that the fate of stellate cells is influenced
by the extracellular matrix through the intermediary of α v β 3 integrin. α v β 3 integrin was
expressed by activated, myofibroblastic rat and human stellate cells in culture. Antagonism …