Ito Cells

Hepatic stellate fat storing cells ( ITO cells )
 * reside in close proximity to the hepatocyte (in the perisinusoidal space, not in lumen!)
 * store approximately 80% of the body's supply of vitamin A and a variety of other lipids (under normal conditions)
 * under conditions of liver injury, activated stellate cells are highly responsive to pro-fibrogenic factors such as transforming growth factor- ß (TGF-ß).
 * proliferate in response to factors such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)