Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Liver Fibrosis Regression
Chronic liver injury of different etiologies may result in hepatic fibrosis, a scar formation process consisting in altered deposition of extracellular matrix. Progression of fibrosis can lead to impaired liver architecture and function, resulting in cirrhosis and organ failure. Although fibrosis wa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Cells |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/10/2759 |
| _version_ | 1797514985659695104 |
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| author | Alessandra Caligiuri Alessandra Gentilini Mirella Pastore Stefano Gitto Fabio Marra |
| author_facet | Alessandra Caligiuri Alessandra Gentilini Mirella Pastore Stefano Gitto Fabio Marra |
| author_sort | Alessandra Caligiuri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chronic liver injury of different etiologies may result in hepatic fibrosis, a scar formation process consisting in altered deposition of extracellular matrix. Progression of fibrosis can lead to impaired liver architecture and function, resulting in cirrhosis and organ failure. Although fibrosis was previous thought to be an irreversible process, recent evidence convincingly demonstrated resolution of fibrosis in different organs when the cause of injury is removed. In the liver, due to its high regenerative ability, the extent of fibrosis regression and reversion to normal architecture is higher than in other tissues, even in advanced disease. The mechanisms of liver fibrosis resolution can be recapitulated in the following main points: removal of injurious factors causing chronic hepatic damage, elimination, or inactivation of myofibroblasts (through various cell fates, including apoptosis, senescence, and reprogramming), inactivation of inflammatory response and induction of anti-inflammatory/restorative pathways, and degradation of extracellular matrix. In this review, we will discuss the major cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the regression of fibrosis/cirrhosis and the potential therapeutic approaches aimed at reversing the fibrogenic process. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:39:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2f252d0286964b58900972cb09789772 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:39:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-2f252d0286964b58900972cb097897722023-11-22T17:48:43ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092021-10-011010275910.3390/cells10102759Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Liver Fibrosis RegressionAlessandra Caligiuri0Alessandra Gentilini1Mirella Pastore2Stefano Gitto3Fabio Marra4Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50137 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50137 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50137 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50137 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50137 Florence, ItalyChronic liver injury of different etiologies may result in hepatic fibrosis, a scar formation process consisting in altered deposition of extracellular matrix. Progression of fibrosis can lead to impaired liver architecture and function, resulting in cirrhosis and organ failure. Although fibrosis was previous thought to be an irreversible process, recent evidence convincingly demonstrated resolution of fibrosis in different organs when the cause of injury is removed. In the liver, due to its high regenerative ability, the extent of fibrosis regression and reversion to normal architecture is higher than in other tissues, even in advanced disease. The mechanisms of liver fibrosis resolution can be recapitulated in the following main points: removal of injurious factors causing chronic hepatic damage, elimination, or inactivation of myofibroblasts (through various cell fates, including apoptosis, senescence, and reprogramming), inactivation of inflammatory response and induction of anti-inflammatory/restorative pathways, and degradation of extracellular matrix. In this review, we will discuss the major cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the regression of fibrosis/cirrhosis and the potential therapeutic approaches aimed at reversing the fibrogenic process.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/10/2759liver fibrosisfibrosis regressionmyofibroblastsHSCsECM degradationtherapies |
| spellingShingle | Alessandra Caligiuri Alessandra Gentilini Mirella Pastore Stefano Gitto Fabio Marra Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Liver Fibrosis Regression Cells liver fibrosis fibrosis regression myofibroblasts HSCs ECM degradation therapies |
| title | Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Liver Fibrosis Regression |
| title_full | Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Liver Fibrosis Regression |
| title_fullStr | Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Liver Fibrosis Regression |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Liver Fibrosis Regression |
| title_short | Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Liver Fibrosis Regression |
| title_sort | cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying liver fibrosis regression |
| topic | liver fibrosis fibrosis regression myofibroblasts HSCs ECM degradation therapies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/10/2759 |
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