part of part of has plasma membrane part fibroblast extracellular matrix secreting cell hepatic stellate cell perisinusoidal cell lipocyte A cell that is found in the perisinusoidal space of the liver that is capable of multiple roles including storage of retinol, presentation of antigen to T cells (including CD1d-restricted NKT cells), and upon activation, production of extracellular matrix components that can contribute to liver fibrosis. This activated state has a myofibroblast-like phenotype, though it's not clear in the literature if this is terminally differentiated. This cell type comprises approximately 8-15% of total cells in the liver. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are a unique cell type found in the liver, residing in the space between the sinusoidal endothelial cells and the hepatocytes, known as the space of Disse. Despite constituting only 5-8% of the total number of liver cells, they play a significant role in the maintenance of liver health. They have a star-shaped (stellate) structure, hence their name and their principal function is the storage of vitamin A in their cytoplasm as retinyl esters. HSCs become highly active when the liver is damaged or diseased. They play a crucial role in the liver's response to injury and wound-healing process, converging into myofibroblasts, the cells responsible for scar tissue formation (fibrosis). They are also involved in maintaining the extracellular matrix balance by producing matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), which break down and inhibit the breakdown of collagen respectively. HSCs also play a part in regulating blood flow through the liver’s blood vessels, help fight infections, and are involved in interactions among different types of liver cells. Recent research has implicated them in regulating liver regeneration and in the development of liver cancer. (This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional.) fat-storing cell https://cellxgene.cziscience.com/cellguide/CL_0000632 CALOHA:TS-0452 hepatic perisinusoidal cell BTO:0002741 ZFA:0009279 vitamin A-storing cells Hepatic stellate cells are CD271-positive, desmin-positive, DDR-2-positive, GFAP-positive, synamin-positive, synaptophysin-positive, vimentin-positive, They are capable of producing angiotensin II, fibronectin, laminin, MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-11, TGF-beta1, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, type I collagen, type III collagen, type IV collagen, and type VI collagen. https://cdn.humanatlas.io/digital-objects/2d-ftu/liver-liver-lobule/v1.3/assets/2d-ftu-liver-liver-lobule.png Ito cell FMA:67763 connective tissue cell Homo sapiens glial fibrillary acidic protein liver