Myofibroblast - like cells and liver fibrogenesis: emerging concepts in a rapidly moving scenario

Fibrotic progression of chronic liver diseases of different aetiology to the common advanced-stage of cirrhosis can be envisaged as a dynamic and highly integrated cellular response to chronic liver injury. Liver fibrosis is accompanied by perpetuation of liver injury, chronic hepatitis and persisting activation of tissue repair mechanisms, leading eventually to excess deposition of ECM components. Liver fibrogenesis (i.e., the process) is sustained by populations of highly proliferative, profibrogenic and contractile MFs that, according to current literature, originate by a process of activation involving perisinusoidal HSC, portal fibroblasts and even bone marrow-derived MSC. In this short review emerging concepts in hepatic fibrogenesis and related molecular mechanisms, as provided by recent experimental and clinical studies, are presented.