Fibrosis occurs in most chronic liver injuries and results from changes in the balance
between synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix components. In fibrotic livers,
there is a markedly increased activity of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), a major enzyme
involved in extracellular matrix remodeling. We have previously shown that hepatic stellate
cells secrete latent MMP2 and that MMP2 activation occurs in coculture of hepatic stellate
cells and hepatocytes concomitantly with matrix deposition. In the present work we …