Bone marrow stromal cells control the growth of hepatic stellate cells in vitro.

Liver cirrhosis is characterized by hepatic dysfunction, with extensive accumulation of fibrous tissue in the liver. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the major source of fibrillar matrix proteins and play an important role in the progress of liver cirrhosis. In our study, the growth of HSCs is inhibited by bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). The inhibition is irreversible and is followed by apoptosis. The effect of BMSCs on the apoptosis of HSCs is possibly via the JNK pathway activated by nerve growth factor (NGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) secreted by BMSCs. Meanwhile, the apoptosis effect is enhanced by transforming growth factor-beta blocking.