title: Molecular Cues Guiding Matrix Stiffness in Liver Fibrosis.
abstract: Tissue and matrix stiffness affect cell properties during morphogenesis, cell growth, differentiation, and migration and are altered in the tissue remodeling following injury and the pathological progression. However, detailed molecular mechanisms underlying alterations of stiffnessin vivoare still poorly understood. Recent engineering technologies have developed powerful techniques to characterize the mechanical properties of cell and matrix at nanoscale levels. Extracellular matrix (ECM) influences mechanical tension and activation of pathogenic signaling during the development of chronic fibrotic diseases. In this short review, we will focus on the present knowledge of the mechanisms of how ECM stiffness is regulated during the development of liver fibrosis and the molecules involved in ECM stiffness as a potential therapeutic target for liver fibrosis.
authors: MRC Centre for Drug Safety Science, Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK.
authors: Takaoki
authors: T
authors: Saneyasu
authors: Centre for Materials and Structures, School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK.
authors: Riaz
authors: R
authors: Akhtar
authors: MRC Centre for Drug Safety Science, Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK.
authors: Takao
authors: 0000-0002-7375-5450
authors: T
authors: Sakai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice