Liver fibrosis is characterized by deposition of excessive extracellular matrix (ECM). The major source of ECM is activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Previously, we reported that hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (Hif-1) regulates activation of HSCs through autophagy. In current work, human HSC cell line LX-2 was used as cell model. It was determined that trimethylation of H3 histone on lysine 4 (H3K4me3) occurred in the Hif-1 transcriptional complex. Inhibition of modifications of histone methylation suppressed Hif-1 nuclear transport, autophagosome formation, and activation of LX-2 cells. These data suggest that histone methylation modification plays an important role in the Hif-1 signaling cascade regulating HSC activation.
Keywords: Hif‐1; hepatic stellate cells; histone methylation.