Extended Data Fig. 10: Model of mechanotransduced angiocrine signals in the liver.
From: Mechanosensing by β1 integrin induces angiocrine signals for liver growth and survival
Simplified drawings of liver sinusoids with liver sinusoidal ECs (LSECs), hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), extracellular matrix (ECM), Kupffer cells (KCs) and hepatocytes (with schematic elements taken from a previous publication38). a, Liver sinusoid under normal blood flow. b, Magnification of space of Disse. c, Liver sinusoid with enhanced blood perfusion. d, Magnification of space of Disse. When the vascular lumen widens owing to enhanced blood perfusion, circumferential stretching of liver sinusoidal ECs activates endothelial β1 integrin and its interaction with VEGFR3. The hepatic ECs (in concert with other cells such HSCs) subsequently release angiocrine signals—such as HGF, IL-6 and TNF—and activate MMP9, and thus enhance proliferation and survival of the adjacent hepatocytes.
