Hepatic stellate cells activation and liver fibrosis after chronic administration of ethanol

Abstract

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are a nonparenchymal population of liver cells. In normal conditions, they store vitamin A, control the turnover of the extracellular matrix, and regulate the contractility of the sinusoids. Acute and chronic damage such as that brought about by alcohol activates the stellate cells and they are then responsible for the liver's inflammatory fibrotic response. Hence, alcohol consumption leads to hepatitis, steatosis, fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver by way of different mechanisms depending on effect upon the nonparenchymal cells of the liver.

Keywords

• hepatic stellate cells
• liver
• ethanol
• fibrogenesis
• desmin