Open AccessMechanisms of fibrogenesis in liver cirrhosis: The molecular aspects of epithelial-mesenchymal transition
Author(s) -
Sunjae Lee,
Kyung-Hyun Kim,
KwanKyu Park
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
world journal of hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 55
ISSN - 1948-5182
DOI - 10.4254/wjh.v6.i4.207
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatic stellate cell , cirrhosis , mesenchymal stem cell , hepatic fibrosis , epithelial–mesenchymal transition , fibrosis , regeneration (biology) , pathology , cancer research , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , cancer , metastasis
Liver injuries are repaired by fibrosis and regeneration. The cause of fibrosis and diminished regeneration, especially in liver cirrhosis, is still unknown. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been found to be associated with liver fibrosis. The possibility that EMT could contribute to hepatic fibrogenesis reinforced the concept that activated hepatic stellate cells are not the only key players in the hepatic fibrogenic process and that other cell types, either hepatic or bone marrow-derived cells could contribute to this process. Following an initial enthusiasm for the discovery of this novel pathway in fibrogenesis, more recent research has started to cast serious doubts upon the real relevance of this phenomenon in human fibrogenetic disorders. The debate on the authenticity of EMT or on its contribution to the fibrogenic process has become very animated. The overall result is a general confusion on the meaning and on the definition of several key aspects. The aim of this article is to describe how EMT participates to hepatic fibrosis and discuss the evidence of supporting this possibility in order to reach reasonable and useful conclusions.