Vitamin D alleviates liver fibrosis by inhibiting histidine-rich calcium binding protein (HRC)

Liver fibrosis may progress toward cirrhosis and cancer without effective therapy. Here, we investigated the underlying mechanism of Vitamin D as a therapeutic approach. Carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)-induced mice model and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) induced human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 were used in vivo and in vitro. The fibrotic profiles, degree of liver injury and HRC expression were assessed by histology, Western blot, immunohistochemistry and Real-Time PCR. The proliferation of cells transfected with HRC +/+ and HRC−/- plasmids was detected by MTS and cell cycle methods. Vitamin D significantly suppressed the expression of HRC in liver fibrosis model both in vivo and in vitro (P