Hepatic stellate cell
perisinusoidal cells of the liver, located in the space of Disse between hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells
Hepatic stellate cells (HSC), also known as perisinusoidal cells or Ito cells (earlier lipocytes or fat-storing cells), are pericytes found in the perisinusoidal space of the liver, also known as the space of Disse (a small area between the sinusoids and hepatocytes). The stellate cell is the major cell type involved in liver fibrosis, which is the formation of scar tissue in response to liver damage; in addition these cells store and concentrate vitamin A.
Structure
Hepatic stellate cells can be selectively stained with gold chloride, but their distinguishing feature in routine histological preparations is the presence of multiple lipid droplets in their cytoplasm. Cytoglobin expression has been shown to be a specific marker with which hepatic stellate cells can be distinguished from portal myofibroblasts in the damaged human liver. In murine (rats, mice) liver, reelin expressed by Ito cells has been shown to be a reliable marker in discerning them from other myofibroblasts. The expression of reelin is increased after liver injury.
Function
In normal liver, stellate cells are described as being in a quiescent state. Quiescent stellate cells represent 5-8% of the total number of liver cells. Each cell has several long cytoplasmic protrusions that extend from the cell body and wrap around the sinusoids. The lipid droplets in the cell body store vitamin A as retinyl palmitate. Hepatic stellate cells store 50–80% of the body's vitamin A.
Besides storing Vitamin A, quiescent hepatic stellate cells maintain liver homeostasis by controlling liver zonation and function through the secretion of R-spondin 3, a key regulator of the WNT pathway.
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