Microenvironment of hepatic oval cells activation and its relationship with hepatic fibrosis / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Liver fibrosis is a necessary stage for many kinds of chronic liver diseases to develop to cirrhosis,which is a serious threat to the health of Chinese people.It has been found that hepatic oval cells,a kind of hepatic stem cells with multiple differentiation potential located in hepatic periportal zone,play an important role in liver fibrosis.Several studies have shown that oval cells have dual capacities of promoting or anting fibrosis,and there is a close relationship between liver fibrosis and cell functions of oval cells.So,further study on the biological characteristics and microenvironmental regulation mechanism of oval cells will provide a new strategy for the treatment of liver fibrosis.Here we try to review the microenvironment for activating oval cells and its relationship with liver fibrosis.