title: Targeting activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) for liver fibrosis imaging.
abstract: Following injurious stimuli, quiescent hepatic stellate cells (qHSCs) transdifferentiate into activated HSCs (aHSCs). aHSCs play pivotal roles in the onset and progression of liver fibrosis. Therefore, molecular imaging of aHSCs in liver fibrosis will facilitate early diagnosis, prognosis prediction, and instruction and evaluation of aHSC-targeted treatment. To date, several receptors, such as integrin αvβ3, mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor (M6P/IGF-IIR), collagen type VI receptor (CVIR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFR-β), vimentin, and desmin, have been identified as biomarkers of aHSCs. Corresponding ligands to these receptors have also been developed. This review will discuss strategies for developing aHSC-targeted imaging in liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.|Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8082-8075
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Guangzhou Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China.
authors.forename: Huizhuang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Guangzhou Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China. docterwei@sina.com.
authors.forename: Hanwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China. shanhong@mail.sysu.edu.cn.|Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, Guangzhou, 510630, China. shanhong@mail.sysu.edu.cn.|Interventional Radiology Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China. shanhong@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shan
keywords: Activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs); Biomarkers; Ligands; Liver fibrosis; Molecular imaging