Analysis of antigen-presenting functionality of cultured rat hepatic stellate cells and transdifferentiated myofibroblasts

Here, we demonstrate that hepatic stellate cells (HSC) isolated from Lewis rats have in vitro antigen-presentation cell (APC) functionality and are able to process and present exogenous antigens. We show activation of a major histocompatibility complex II (RT1BI)-restricted T-cell hybridoma specific for guinea pig myelin basic protein (gpMBP) after coculture with HSC. During transdifferentiation of HSC into myofibroblasts (MFB) the APC function was markedly decreased but restorable by addition of interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Based on our findings we conclude that HSC play a key role in hepatic immune function and that IFN-γ treatment might mediate its beneficial therapeutic effects via activation of APC function in MFB.