Cytoglobin in Hepatic Stellate Cells Plays Anti-Fibrotic Role in Chronic Liver Injury

Cytoglobin (Cygb) was discovered in 2001 as a cytoplasmic globin predominantly expressed in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). While its initial physiological role remained elusive, subsequent studies using Cygb-deficient mouse models of liver injury have demonstrated that Cygb exerts protective effects against liver fibrosis and inflammation. It achieves this by regulating HSC activation, thereby preserving hepatic homeostasis. Furthermore, accumulating evidence suggests a significant role for Cygb in hepatocarcinogenesis. Analysis of human liver tissues and cell-based models has further confirmed the critical involvement of CYGB in liver pathology. Functionally, Cygb acts as an antioxidant protein that mitigates oxidative stress, a property that appears to modulate transforming growth factor-beta signaling and downstream fibrogenic responses. Based on these findings, therapeutic strategies employing recombinant CYGB for the treatment of human liver cirrhosis are currently being explored, and their potential clinical applications are eagerly anticipated.