Cellular mechanisms in liver fibrosis regression

With the action of various chronic factors for liver injury, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are activated and transformed to myofibroblasts (MFBs) and then migrate to the injured part and secrete a large amount of extracellular matrix (ECM). Excessive deposition of ECM in the liver causes liver fibrosis. The elimination of factors for liver injury or effective treatment helps to achieve liver fibrosis regression. This article introduces the types of cells involved in liver fibrosis regression. MFBs play an important role liver fibrosis regression via senescence, apoptosis, and inactivation; macrophages exert an anti-fibrosis effect by accelerating ECM degradation and inducing MFB senescence; liver sinusoidal endothelial cells help to achieve liver fibrosis regression by maintaining its normal phenotype; natural killer cells are involved in liver fibrosis regression by killing the early activated HSCs and senescent MFBs