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Pharmacological strategies targeting hepatocyte-mediated crosstalk in liver fibrosis

Yue Zhang1, Meng-Guang Wei1, Xin-Yue Zhou1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.

Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
|March 24, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Liver fibrosis treatments are limited by complex causes and side effects. Targeting hepatocyte signaling offers new therapeutic strategies for liver fibrosis.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Liver fibrosis is a common result of chronic liver injury.
  • Current therapies for liver fibrosis have limited efficacy and adverse effects.
  • Hepatocytes are key initiators of liver fibrosis through cell signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in understanding hepatocyte-centered signaling in liver fibrosis.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets and strategies for liver fibrosis.
  • To provide an overview of current antifibrotic therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of hepatocyte-focused mechanisms in liver fibrosis.
  • Analysis of signaling crosstalk in fibrogenesis.
  • Evaluation of current antifibrotic strategies and combination therapies.

Main Results:

  • Hepatocyte signaling crosstalk is crucial for promoting liver fibrosis.
  • Understanding these mechanisms identifies potential therapeutic targets.
  • Combination therapies and drug modifications show promise for improved efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting hepatocyte-centered signaling offers a promising avenue for liver fibrosis treatment.
  • Advances in understanding liver fibrosis pathogenesis can lead to better therapeutic outcomes.
  • This review provides a comprehensive overview of current antifibrotic strategies.
Keywords:
clinical drugshepatocyteintercellular communicationliver fibrosis

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