抄録
Stellate cells (vitamin A-storing cells, lipocytes, fat-storing cells, Ito cells) exist in the perisinusoidal space of the hepatic lobule, and store 80% of retinoids in the whole body as retinyl palmitate in lipid droplets in the cytoplasm. Under physiological conditions, these cells play key roles in the control of retinoid homeostasis ; they express specific receptors for retinol-binding protein (RBP), a binding protein specific for retinol, on their cell surface, and take up the complex of retinol and RBP by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Whereas, under pathological conditions such as liver cirrhosis, these cells lose retinoids, and synthesize a large amount of extracellular matrix (ECM) components including collagen, proteoglycan and adhesive glycoproteins. Morphology of these cells also changes from the star-shaped stellate cells to that of fibroblasts or myofibroblasts. ECM components regulate the morphology, proliferation, and functions of the stellate cells. L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, a long-acting vitamin C derivative, further modulates this cellular regulation by ECM components.
