Progress of DJ-1 protein as target for liver fibrosis treatment / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Liver fibrosis occurs prior to cirrhosis and the patho-logical feature is the transitional deposition of extracellular matrix and activation of hepatic stellate cells. Varieties of cytokines and related signaling pathways have been shown to participate in the process of hepatic fibrosis or activation of hepatic stellate cells. In recent years,studies have emerged to reveal the role of tran-scriptional factor DJ-1 in hepatic fibrosis. DJ-1 can relieve the process of hepatic fibrosis by regulating the level of oxidative free radicals in hepatocytes,Kupffer cells and inflammatory cell infil-suggesting DJ-1 as a potential molecular target for hepatic fibrosis treatment. This article provides a comprehensive review of DJ-1 in hepatic fibrosis treatment, including liver fibrosis and oxidative stress, DJ-1 structure and function, mechanism of DJ-1 in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis, and therapeutic prospect of targeting DJ-1.