NEW CHALLENGES IN HEPATIC-FIBROSIS

Treatment of hepatic fibrosis by simple and inexpensive therapies is a new challenge for the near future. Hepatic fibrosis which may lead to cirrhosis, is indeed associated with most chronic liver diseases and affects millions of people. During the last decade, major breakthrough s have been accomplished in the field of hepatic fibrosis including th e discovery of key components of the extracellular matrix, the cellula r origin of most matrix proteins, the molecular mechanisms involved in their synthesis and degradation, and the role of cytokines in fibroge nesis. Most of this progress came from the development of new techniqu es including in vitro model systems which have proven useful for inves tigating the molecular bases of fibrogenesis. From basic research to c linical application, two major fields are now actively explored: the s earch for reliable serum markers of fibrogenesis and the discovery of drugs that prevent cirrhosis. A recent approach to treat hepatic fibro sis is to use cytokines, e.g. interferons, that modulate extracellular matrix synthesis.