Tissue Regeneration Project, Hiroshima Prefecture Collaboration of Regional Entities for the Advancement of Technological Excellence, Japan Science and Technology Corporation, Japan.
This study cloned cDNA of human homologue (hSTAP) of rat stellate cell activation-associated protein (rSTAP). hSTAP gene is on chromosome 17q and is composed of four exons. Various types of cells including hepatic stellate cells expressed hSTAP mRNA. Recombinant hSTAP was a heme protein with the activity of peroxidase. hSTAP can be used as a marker of quiescent stellate cells in human liver.