A conserved HAND2-HAND2_OE-SMAD1/5/9 axis drives hepatic stellate cell activation and extracellular matrix overproduction in multiple fibrotic etiologies

The transcription factor HAND2 plays critical roles in development, but its function in hepatic stellate cells remains largely unexplored. To elucidate the transcriptional landscape modulated by HAND2, we performed RNA‑sequencing on human LX‑2 cells transduced with a lentivirus overexpressing HAND2, compared with cells transduced with empty‑vector control. Each group comprised five independent biological replicates. This dataset enables the identification of HAND2‑regulated genes and signaling pathways, providing a valuable resource for understanding the molecular actions of HAND2 in liver fibrosis.