The polyenylphosphatidylcholine (PPC) contained in essential phospholipids are able to restore quiescent-like features in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the main orchestrators in fibrosis progression and regression.
Here, we showed that treating HSCs with selected PPCs stimulate the formation of lipid droplets, reducing collagen and α-SMA expression, and raise cell membrane fluidity. The co-formulation of PPC with the hepatoprotectant silymarin synergistically enhances these modulating effects, and will be further considered for the development of oral dosage forms.

This work was carried out in the group of Prof. Paola Luciani.

Reference:

• G. Valentino, C. Zivko, F. Weber, L. Brülisauer, P. Luciani;
  "Synergy of Phospholipid-Drug Formulations Significantly Deactivates Profibrogenic Human Hepatic Stellate Cells"
  Pharmaceutics , 2019, 11(12), 676; doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics11120676.