Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Isolation of Rat Portal Fibroblasts by In situ Liver Perfusion
07:39

Isolation of Rat Portal Fibroblasts by In situ Liver Perfusion

Published on: June 29, 2012

Mononuclear cells in liver fibrosis

Fabio Marra1, Sara Aleffi, Sara Galastri

  • 1Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 85, 50134, Florence, Italy. f.marra@dmi.unifi.it

Seminars in Immunopathology
|June 18, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Mononuclear cells, including macrophages and lymphocytes, play a dual role in liver fibrosis, promoting its development and resolution. Targeting these cells offers a promising therapeutic strategy for fibrosis.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Fibrosis is a complex wound healing response involving myofibroblasts and crosstalk with immune cells.
  • Macrophages, T lymphocytes, and NK cells are key players in liver fibrosis development and resolution.
  • The roles of NKT and B cells in fibrosis are increasingly recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the multifaceted roles of mononuclear cells in liver fibrogenesis and resolution.
  • To highlight the regulatory functions of immune cells in the fibrotic process.
  • To identify mononuclear cells as potential therapeutic targets for liver fibrosis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on immune cell involvement in liver fibrosis.
  • Analysis of cytokine profiles and cellular interactions in fibrotic liver models.
  • Examination of immune cell-mediated matrix degradation and cell killing mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Macrophages and monocytes contribute to fibrosis through cytokine secretion and oxidative stress but also aid resolution via matrix degradation.
  • T lymphocytes modulate fibrosis; Th2 responses promote it, while Th1 cytokines may inhibit it.
  • NK cells limit fibrosis development and promote resolution by eliminating fibrogenic cells.

Conclusions:

  • Mononuclear cells are critical regulators of liver fibrogenesis and resolution.
  • Immune cell-mediated mechanisms, including cytokine signaling and direct cell interactions, are central to fibrosis.
  • Targeting mononuclear cells presents a viable therapeutic avenue for treating liver fibrosis.

More Related Videos

Long Term Intravital Multiphoton Microscopy Imaging of Immune Cells in Healthy and Diseased Liver Using CXCR6.Gfp Reporter Mice11:44

Long Term Intravital Multiphoton Microscopy Imaging of Immune Cells in Healthy and Diseased Liver Using CXCR6.Gfp Reporter Mice

Published on: March 24, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology01:24

Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology

Cirrhosis is a progressive chronic liver injury caused by prolonged inflammation, excessive fibrotic remodeling, and impaired regeneration. Over time, repeated hepatic insults disrupt the liver’s architecture and function, leading to reduced blood flow, impaired bile drainage, and diminished metabolic capacity.Pathophysiology of cirrhosisCirrhosis arises from three main responses to chronic liver damage: inflammation, immune activation, and hepatocyte death. These processes lead to structural...
Cirrhosis I: Introduction01:23

Cirrhosis I: Introduction

Cirrhosis is a chronic, irreversible liver disease characterized by the widespread replacement of healthy liver tissue with fibrotic scar tissue and the formation of regenerative nodules.Etiology of cirrhosisCirrhosis results from sustained liver injury that triggers progressive fibrosis and structural remodeling. The underlying causes are diverse, encompassing common and less frequent clinical conditions. Regardless of the origin, all causes lead to chronic inflammation, hepatocyte loss, and...
Liver Regeneration01:24

Liver Regeneration

The liver is an important organ in vertebrates that plays an essential role in metabolism. It is also responsible for storing and redistributing nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins in the body. Additionally, the liver releases bile salts which are critical for digesting food and eliminating toxic metabolites from the body.
Cells of Liver
The liver comprises four major types of cells— hepatocytes, stellate, Kupffer, and sinusoidal endothelial cells. The hepatocytes are large...
Chronic Inflammation: Introduction01:12

Chronic Inflammation: Introduction

Chronic inflammation is a prolonged, dysregulated immune response that persists for weeks to years when the inciting stimulus is difficult to eradicate or when self‑antigens drive ongoing reactivity. Morphologically, it is defined by mononuclear cell infiltration, progressive tissue destruction, and concurrent attempts at healing via angiogenesis and fibrosis. Compared with acute inflammation, edema is less prominent while cellular infiltration predominates; triggers include persistent...
Liver Histology01:27

Liver Histology

The microscopic anatomy of the liver is a complex and intricate system that comprises numerous structural units known as liver lobules, each of which is comparable in size to a sesame seed. These hexagonal structures consist of plates of liver cells or hepatocytes, which are characterized by their versatility and abundance of cellular apparatus like rough and smooth ER, Golgi apparatus, peroxisomes, and mitochondria.
Hepatocytes perform a variety of essential functions. They secrete...
Introduction to Fibroblasts01:09

Introduction to Fibroblasts

Rudolph Virchow discovered spindle-shaped cells called fibroblasts in 1858. Inactive fibroblasts, called fibrocytes, become activated by various stimuli, such as growth factors and inflammatory cytokines. Activated fibroblasts play a crucial role in wound healing, inflammation, formation of new blood vessels, and cancer progression. Uncontrolled activation of fibroblasts results in fibrosis, the excess deposition of fibrous tissue, which can lead to scarring and affect normal organs. This...