This review article summarizes 20 years of our research on hepatic stellate cells within the framework of two collaborative research centers CRC575 and CRC974 at the Heinrich Heine University. Over this period, stellate cells were identified for the first time as mesenchymal stem cells of the liver, and important functions of these cells in the context of liver regeneration were discovered. Furthermore, it was determined that the space of Disse – bounded by the sinusoidal endothelium and hepatocytes – functions as a stem cell niche for stellate cells. Essential elements of this niche that control the maintenance of hepatic stellate cells have been identified alongside their impairment with age. This article aims to highlight previous studies on stellate cells and critically examine and identify open questions and future research directions.

中文翻译：

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肝星状细胞：当前状态和未解决的问题

这篇综述文章总结了我们在海因里希海涅大学的两个合作研究中心 CRC575 和 CRC974 框架内对肝星状细胞的研究 20 年。在此期间，星状细胞首次被鉴定为肝脏的间充质干细胞，并发现了这些细胞在肝脏再生方面的重要功能。此外，已确定 Disse 的空间——以窦状内皮和肝细胞为界——作为星状细胞的干细胞生态位发挥作用。已经确定了控制肝星状细胞维持的这个生态位的基本元素以及它们随着年龄的增长而受损。本文旨在突出以前对星状细胞的研究，并批判性地检查和确定开放性问题和未来的研究方向。