Connective tissue biology and hepatic fibrosis: report of a conference

The past 15 years have seen major advances in the characterization of extracellular matrix proteins and structure of matrix. As a by-product of this work, investigators now have an array of molecular and immunological reagents for monitoring matrix metabolism. Progress in the isolation and culture of individual cell types from liver has made possible direct measurement of matrix protein production and also has opened the way to studies of matrix degradation. The expanding knowledge of soluble mediators of inflammation is being applied to the regulation of matrix protein synthesis and degradation. Finally, experimental models of fibrosis in vivo are available for defining the complexity of matrix metabolism in the intact tissue and for validating the findings from cell culture and in vitro systems.