AIM:To study the protein C activation system in human liver myofibroblasts,and the effects of activated protein C(APC)on these cells.METHODS:Human liver myofibroblasts were obtained by outgrowth.Expression of protease activated receptor 1(PAR-1),endothelial protein C receptor(EPCR) and thrombomodulin(TM)was analyzed by flow cytometry.Extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)1/2 activation was assessed by Western blotting using anti-phospho-ERK antibodies.Collagen synthesis was studied with real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Activation of protein C was studied by incubating liver myofibroblasts with zymogen protein C in the presence of thrombin and detecting the generation of APC with a colorimetric assay using a peptide substrate. RESULTS:Primary cultures of human liver myofibroblasts expressed EPCR on their surface,together with PAR-1 and TM.This receptor system was functional since exposure of myofibroblasts to APC inducedERK1/2 phosphorylation in a dose-and time-dependent manner.Furthermore,APC significantly upregulated the expression of collagen mRNA,as shown by real-time RT-PCR.Collagen upregulation was controlled through the ERK pathway as it was inhibited when using the mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase inhibitor PD98059.Finally,using a cell-based colorimetric assay,we showed that intact myofibroblasts converted protein C into APC in the presence of thrombin.CONCLUSION:These data suggest that APC is a new modulator of liver myofibroblast activity and contributes to the pathophysiology of chronic liver diseases. AIM: To study the protein C activation system in human liver myofibroblasts, and the effects of activated protein C (APC) on these cells. METHODS: Human liver myofibroblasts were obtained by outgrowth. Expression of protease activated receptor 1 (PAR- endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) and thrombomodulin (TM) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 activation was assessed by Western blotting using anti-phospho- ERK antibodies. Collagen synthesis was studied with real- time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Activation of protein C was studied by incubating liver myofibroblasts with zymogen protein C in the presence of thrombin and detecting the generation of APC with a colorimetric assay using a peptide substrate. cultures of human liver myofibroblasts expressed EPCR on their surface, together with PAR-1 and TM. This receptor system was functional since exposure of myofibroblasts to APC induced ERK1 / 2 phosphorylation in a do se-and time-dependent manner. Durthermore, APC significantly upregulated the expression of collagen mRNA, as shown by real-time RT-PCR. Collagen upregulation was controlled through the ERK pathway as it was inhibited when using the mitogen-activated protein / extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase inhibitor PD98059. Finaally, using a cell-based colorimetric assay, we showed that intact myofibroblasts converted protein C into APC in the presence of thrombin. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that APC is a new modulator of liver myofibroblast activity and contributes to the pathophysiology of chronic liver diseases.