Hepatic Myofibroblasts in Liver Fibrogenesis

On a worldwide perspective chronic liver diseases (CLDs) are very common pathologic conditions which are characterized by reiteration of hepatocyte injury that is mainly induced by chronic infection by hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV), autoimmune injury and metabolic and/or toxic/drug – induced causes, with chronic alcohol consumption being predominant particularly in western countries. Chronic liver injury is reported to result in the chronic activation of both inflammatory and wound healing response that, in association with other major pathogenic mechanisms (oxidative stress, derangement of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions and possibly epithelial to mesenchymal transition, see later in section 3), can sustain persistent liver fibrogenesis (i.e., the process) and represent the prominent driving force for liver fibrosis (i.e., the result) (Parola and Robino, 2001; Friedman 2003; Bataller and Brenner, 2005; Friedman 2008b; Novo and Parola, 2008; Parola et al., 2008).