title: Emerging and disease-specific mechanisms of hepatic stellate cell activation.
abstract: The last decade has seen a rapid expansion in our understanding of the mechanisms leading to hepatic stellate cell activation. The classic activation pathway of initiation, perpetuation and regression remains as a useful model; however, the emergence of several new pathways and mediators has revealed a deeper complexity than previously appreciated. Although core fibrogenic pathways exist across organs and disease types, there is accumulating evidence for disease- and context-specific mechanisms that may modulate or drive hepatic fibrogenesis. Hence, a "one size fits all" approach to antifibrotic therapy may not be appropriate for all disease settings. The authors present a focused and concise update of the most recent advances in our understanding of hepatic stellate cell activation pathways, while highlighting several challenges that may be constraining progress. This summary provides a foundation to further expand our knowledge of this unique cell type and its contributions to human liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Liver Diseases, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.affiliation: Division of Liver Diseases, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Scott L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.affiliation: Fibrosis Laboratory, Institute of Cellular Medicine, New Castle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Derek A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction