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. 2022 Feb 8;8:51. doi: 10.1038/s41420-022-00846-4

Fig. 8. Overview diagram describing the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of HF-MSCs on HSCs.

Fig. 8

In a healthy liver, ECM1 interacts with αV integrin to maintain the latent state of TGF-β. After liver injury, ECM1 levels are decreased, leading to the activation of TGF-β by αV integrin, which in turn activates HSCs through the TGF-β/Smad pathway. ECM1-HF-MSCs can inhibit the activation of TGF-β through exogenous supplementation with ECM1, which in turn affects the activation of HSCs, thereby alleviating LC.