title: Epigenetic regulation of hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis.
abstract: Chronic liver injury to hepatocytes or cholangiocytes, when left unmanaged, leads to the development of liver fibrosis, a condition characterized by the excessive intrahepatic deposition of extracellular matrix proteins. Activated hepatic stellate cells constitute the predominant source of extracellular matrix in fibrotic livers and their transition from a quiescent state during fibrogenesis is associated with important alterations in their transcriptional and epigenetic landscape. Areas covered: We briefly describe the processes involved in hepatic stellate cell activation and discuss our current understanding of alterations in the epigenetic landscape, i.e DNA methylation, histone modifications and the functional role of non-coding RNAs that accompany this key event in the development of chronic liver disease. Expert commentary: Although great progress has been made, our understanding of the epigenetic regulation of hepatic stellate cell activation is limited and, thus far, insufficient to allow the development of epigenetic drugs that can selectively interrupt liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: a Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Laboratory of Pediatric Hepatology and Cell Therapy , Université Catholique de Louvain , Brussels , Belgium.|b Liver Cell Biology Laboratory , Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , Brussels , Belgium.
authors.forename: Adil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Taghdouini
authors.affiliation: b Liver Cell Biology Laboratory , Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , Brussels , Belgium.
authors.forename: Leo A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: van Grunsven
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D022661:RNA, Untranslated
keywords: DNA methylation; Hepatic stellate cell; fibrosis; histone modification; liver disease; ncRNA