-2 Regulates Liver Fibrosis through the TGF-β Signaling Pathway.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) activates hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which drive liver fibrosis via the production and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM). We aimed to elucidate the mechanistic role of -2 (SULF2) in liver fibrosis. To this end, we induced liver fibrosis in wild-type (WT) and SULF2 knockout (-KO) mice (6-8 weeks-old) via bile duct ligation (BDL), intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl) or thioacetamide (TAA).