Fibroblast-stimulating factor 1, a novel lymphokine produced in schistosomal egg granulomas, stimulates liver fat-storing cells in vitro.

We report that the novel lymphokine fibroblast-stimulating factor 1, produced within hepatic schistosomal egg granulomas, stimulates liver fat-storing cells (FSC) in vitro to proliferate and express fibronectin genes. Because FSC are critical in hepatic fibrogenesis generally, we propose that in vivo stimulation of FSC by fibroblast-stimulating factor 1 may be an important step in schistosomal liver fibrosis.