July 2016 Vol. 4 No.7

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Review

Liver Cirrhosis: An Overview

Nadia Moustafa, Manal Abdul-Hamid, ^*Rasha R. Ahmed and Rehab Nady

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: shorouk2002os@yahoo.com, rasha.ahmed@science.bsu.edu.eg
Tel.: 01019673646
Fax: +20-082-2334551

Accepted June 15, 2016

Abstract

Liver cirrhosis is a common sequel to diverse chronic liver injuries of different etiologies and represents an elevating cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Identification and characterization of cell populations contributing to the myofibroblastic pool and production of extracellular matrix (ECM) in liver fibrosis, as well as the increasing knowledge about natural course, many of the intricate cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying liver fibrogenesis and its progression, and contributions of the genetic regulation, inflammatory and immuno-mediators, neuroendocrine factors, and oxidative stress, have provided important data upon which the design of effective and targeted antifibrotic pharmacological strategies, aiming at halting the progression to decompensated cirrhosis or even reversing the liver fibrogenesis, can be based. This review summarizes recent progresses in understanding the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and some new experimental therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: Cell population, ECM, Fibrosis, Liver cirrhosis