Researchers describe the origin and fate of liver myofibroblasts

Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLMSep 28 2023 In advanced cases, the only treatment is an organ transplant.

"Liver fibrosis is quite common, in part because it can be caused by a number of things that damage the organ but result in scarring rather than healthy repair," said Brenner, a gastroenterologist and noted liver disease researcher. "Everything from viral hepatitis to excessive alcohol consumption to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease , which is extremely common in the U.S."

In their paper, Brenner, Kisseleva and co-authors explain that myofibroblasts are not present in normal, healthy livers, but activate in response to chronic liver injury, such as excessive alcohol consumption. An inflammatory response triggers activation of hepatic stellate cells , which transition from relatively scarce, quiescent, vitamin A-storing cells into proliferative myofibroblasts that secrete the scar forming proteins.

There are many causes of liver fibrosis and thus, there are no effective therapies currently because most efforts have focused on single targets when the nature of chronic liver injury is incredibly complex." Related StoriesAn emerging therapeutic approach, said the researchers, is to zero in on disrupting the creation of hepatic myofibroblasts while simultaneously addressing the underlying cause of the liver damage, such as a viral infection or excessive drinking.

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