Polymorphism of Hepatic Stellate Cells and their Role in Fibrogenesis

Abstract

In 1876, stellar cells of the liver (formerly known as lipocytes, Ito cells or perisinusoidal cells) were first described by K.Kupfer and named by him stellate cells. T. Ito discovered fat drops in these cells and found that fat is produced by the cells themselves from glycogen and proved their fat-storing function. However, in 1971, it has been proved that Kupffer cells and fat-storing Ito cellsare completely same and they are kind of "storage” for vitamin A. [1]. stellate cells - perisinusoidal, pericyte-like cells of mesenchymal origin attract attention primarily as effectors of the response with the development of fibrogenesis.  In a standard liver, these cells act as a reservoir for retinoids.  Most of all the reserves of vitamin A of the human body are located in them [2]. As a result of pericyte-like form, they can also act as regulators of blood flow. One of the most incredible abilities of these cells appears after liver damage. In this situation, stellate cells move from a dormant (normal) state to an activated (damaged) state.