肝内肌成纤维细胞和星状细胞在肝纤维化中的作用

Functions of myofibroblasts and hepatic satellite cells in liver fibrosis

肝纤维化是不同病因长期作用于肝脏所致损伤后修复反应,发病机制主要是肝内纤维生成,细胞活化、增殖,合成大量细胞外基质(extracellur matrix.ECM),并伴有ECM降解不足,最终导致其在肝内大量积聚.近来有研究提示除肝星状细胞(hepatic satellite cell,HSC)外,肌成纤维细胞(myofibroblast,MF)可能是另一类参与肝纤维化进程并发挥重要作用的细胞,进一步确证上述研究结果将助于针对不同类型肝纤维化寻找和采取不同的干预方法,以更有效地阻断肝纤维化的进展.

Liver fibrosis represents wound-healing responses from liver tissue injury. Multiple mechanisms underlying liver fibrogenesis have been explored. Inflammatory cytokines stimulate fibrogenetic cell proliferation and activation, the production of extracellular matrix （ECM）, and the secretion of various cytokines and enzymes. All such alterations lead to a relative increase in the deposition of ECM components. Decreased degradation occurs with resulting excessive ECM accumulation in the liver. It has recently been suggested that, besides hepatic stellate cells, myofibroblasts may also constitute an important population of matrix-producing cells in liver fibrosis, and especially in cholestatic fibrosis. Confirmation of such observations will be required for the development of antifibrotic strategies that specifically and efficiently target cells responsible for the different types of liver fibrosis.