title: Hepatic inflammation and progressive liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease.
abstract: Chronic liver inflammation drives hepatic fibrosis, and current immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral therapies can weaken this driver. Hepatic fibrosis is reversed, stabilized, or prevented in 57%-79% of patients by conventional treatment regimens, mainly by their anti-inflammatory actions. Responses, however, are commonly incomplete and inconsistently achieved. The fibrotic mechanisms associated with liver inflammation have been clarified, and anti-fibrotic agents promise to improve outcomes as adjunctive therapies. Hepatitis C virus and immune-mediated responses can activate hepatic stellate cells by increasing oxidative stress within hepatocytes. Angiotensin can be synthesized by activated hepatic stellate cells and promote the production of reactive oxygen species. Anti-oxidants (N-acetylcysteine, S-adenosyl-L-methionine, and vitamin E) and angiotensin inhibitors (losartin) have had anti-fibrotic actions in preliminary human studies, and they may emerge as supplemental therapies. Anti-fibrotic agents presage a new era of supplemental treatment for chronic liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Albert J Czaja, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, United States.
authors.forename: Albert J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Czaja
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators
keywords: Angiotensin receptors; Anti-oxidants; Cirrhosis; Fibrosis; Inflammation; Investigational drugs; Treatment