A conserved HAND2-BMP5-SMAD1/5/9 axis drives hepatic stellate cell activation and extracellular matrix overproduction in multiple fibrotic etiologies

Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation is a key driver of liver fibrogenesis, but the transcriptional response to bone morphogenetic protein 5 (BMP5) in these cells has not been systematically characterized. To address this, we performed RNA‑sequencing on the human LX‑2 hepatic stellate cell line following stimulation with recombinant BMP5 protein, compared with vehicle‑treated controls. Each condition included five independent biological replicates to ensure statistical robustness. Total RNA was extracted, and strand‑specific libraries were prepared for high‑throughput sequencing. This dataset enables the genome‑wide identification of differentially expressed genes, pathway enrichment analyses, and the delineation of BMP5‑regulated networks in HSCs. Our transcriptomic profiles provide a comprehensive resource for understanding the molecular actions of BMP5 in hepatic fibrosis and may reveal potential targets for therapeutic intervention.