Macrophages: Central regulators of hepatic fibrogenesis and fibrosis resolution

摘要: Hepatic fibrosis is the common end point to chronic injury of varied aetiology. There now excellent evidence in both human studies and animal models that liver a bidirectional process with significant reversible component. The hepatic stellate cell (HSC), following activation myofibroblast phenotype, principal producing extracellular matrix (ECM) during fibrogenesis main source TIMP-1, which inhibits endogenous matrix-degrading activity metalloproteinases (MMPs), thus promoting scar deposition. Furthermore, apoptosis activated HSCs critical feature resolution. However, emerging indicates it macrophage master regulator this dynamic fibrogenesis–fibrosis resolution paradigm.