title: Experimental models of liver fibrosis.
abstract: Hepatic fibrosis is a wound healing response to insults and as such affects the entire world population. In industrialized countries, the main causes of liver fibrosis include alcohol abuse, chronic hepatitis virus infection and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. A central event in liver fibrosis is the activation of hepatic stellate cells, which is triggered by a plethora of signaling pathways. Liver fibrosis can progress into more severe stages, known as cirrhosis, when liver acini are substituted by nodules, and further to hepatocellular carcinoma. Considerable efforts are currently devoted to liver fibrosis research, not only with the goal of further elucidating the molecular mechanisms that drive this disease, but equally in view of establishing effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The present paper provides a state-of-the-art overview of in vivo and in vitro models used in the field of experimental liver fibrosis research.
authors.affiliation: Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sara Crespo
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Yanguas
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cogliati
authors.affiliation: Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Willebrords
authors.affiliation: Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Michaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Algemeen Stedelijk Ziekenhuis, Aalst, Belgium.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Colle
authors.affiliation: Department of Abdominal Surgery and Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgery, Algemeen Stedelijk Ziekenhuis, Aalst, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van den Bossche
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical Division, Hepatology Branch, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudia Pinto Marques Souza
authors.initials: CPMS
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medical Investigation, Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wellington
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Andraus
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Venâncio Avancini Ferreira
authors.initials: VAF
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Hépato-Gastro-Entérologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leclercq
authors.affiliation: Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vinken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010641:Phenotype; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Animal models; Hepatic stellate cells; In vitro models; Liver fibrosis