Bone Morphogenetic Protein 9 Is a Paracrine Factor Controlling Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cell Fenestration and Protecting Against Hepatic Fibrosis
Agnès Desroches‐Castan, Emmanuelle Tillet, Nicolas Ricard, Marie Ouarné, Christine Mallet, Lucid Belmudes, Yohann Couté, Olivier Boillot, Jean‐Yves Scoazec, Sabine Bailly, Jean‐Jacques Feige – 9 April 2019 – Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) is a circulating factor produced by hepatic stellate cells that plays a critical role in vascular quiescence through its endothelial receptor activin receptor‐like kinase 1 (ALK1). Mutations in the gene encoding ALK1 cause hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 2, a rare genetic disease presenting hepatic vessel malformations.