Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 12, 2026
07:39
Isolation of Rat Portal Fibroblasts by In situ Liver Perfusion
Published on: June 29, 2012
19.9K
Origin and function of myofibroblasts in the liver
Rebecca G Wells1, Robert F Schwabe, Robert Schwabe2
1Departments of Medicine (GI) and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Seminars in Liver Disease
|May 15, 2015
Summary
This review explores liver fibrosis, focusing on hepatic stellate cells and portal fibroblasts. Understanding these cell populations is key to developing targeted antifibrotic therapies for liver disease.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Cell Biology
- Fibrosis Research
Background:
- Liver fibrosis is a major complication of various liver diseases.
- Identifying fibrogenic cells and pathways is crucial for antifibrotic therapy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the origins and functions of hepatic myofibroblasts.
- To differentiate the roles of hepatic stellate cells and portal fibroblasts in liver fibrosis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of hepatic myofibroblast populations.
- Analysis of molecular pathways in liver fibrosis.
- Discussion of antifibrotic strategy hypotheses.
Main Results:
- Hepatic stellate cells are the primary drivers of organ fibrosis.
- Portal fibroblasts may play a specialized role in periductular fibrosis but have a limited impact on overall fibrosis.
Conclusions:
- Different fibrogenic cell populations may have distinct functions.
- The need for cell type-specific versus general antifibrotic strategies is discussed.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Introduction to Fibroblasts
4.8K
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...
4.8K
01:24Liver Regeneration
5.3K
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...
Cells of Liver
The liver comprises four major types of cells— hepatocytes, stellate, Kupffer, and sinusoidal endothelial cells. The hepatocytes are...
5.3K
01:13Formation of Muscle Fibers from Myoblasts
7.4K
De novo myogenesis, or the formation of muscle fibers, begins during the early embryonic stages. The skeletal muscle is formed from somites– blocks of embryonic cell layers. The somites are further divided into dermatomes, myotomes, sclerotomes, and syndetomes. Among these, the myotomes give rise to muscle fibers.
Muscle progenitor cells (MPCs) are formed from the myotomes. MPCs express genes that encode the transcription factors Pax3 and Pax7. Along with Pax 3/7, other transcription...
Muscle progenitor cells (MPCs) are formed from the myotomes. MPCs express genes that encode the transcription factors Pax3 and Pax7. Along with Pax 3/7, other transcription...
7.4K
01:27Liver Histology
11.6K
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...
Hepatocytes perform a variety of essential functions. They secrete...
11.6K
01:30Liver Physiology
4.4K
The liver, an essential organ in the human body, performs over 200 vital functions that can be broadly categorized into metabolic, hematological, endocrine regulation, and bile production.
Metabolic Regulation:
The liver is the central organ involved in regulating blood composition. It stabilizes blood glucose levels, maintaining them within the range of 70–110 mg/dL. When these levels drop, the liver breaks down glycogen reserves and releases glucose into the bloodstream. It can...
Metabolic Regulation:
The liver is the central organ involved in regulating blood composition. It stabilizes blood glucose levels, maintaining them within the range of 70–110 mg/dL. When these levels drop, the liver breaks down glycogen reserves and releases glucose into the bloodstream. It can...
4.4K
01:25Fibronectins Connect Cells with ECM
3.8K
Fibronectin is an adhesive glycoprotein present in the extracellular matrix of embryogenic and adult tissue. These molecules primarily aid in regulating cell motility and attachment. A fibronectin molecule is composed of two identical polypeptide chains attached to each other by a pair of disulfide bonds at the C-terminal.
Both proteoglycans and collagen are attached to fibronectin proteins, which, in turn, are attached to integrin proteins. These integrin proteins interact with transmembrane...
Both proteoglycans and collagen are attached to fibronectin proteins, which, in turn, are attached to integrin proteins. These integrin proteins interact with transmembrane...
3.8K