Liver fibrosis

Knowledge on the development and progression of liver fibrosis has grown ex ponentially in the past decade. At present, liver fibrogenesis is referred to as a dynamic process involving complex cellular and molecular mechanisms , resulting from the chronic activation of the tissue repair mechanisms tha t follows reiterated liver tissue injury. The identification and characteri zation of the cell types and of the different mediators involved in this pr ocess has allowed a "re-visitation" of several issues related to liver cirr hosis and its immediate consequences. Among these, evaluation of the relati onships occurring between fibrogenesis and portal hypertension, cholestasis and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, represent some of the hot test areas of research in this field of hepatology. The elucidation of many of the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the progression o f liver fibrosis has provided a sound basis for the development of pharmaco logical strategies able to modulate this important pathophysiological proce ss.