ABSTRACT
Liver fibrosis is a pathological process of fibrous scar formation caused by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix due to various etiologies. At present, etiological treatment, such as effective antiviral therapy, is still the main treatment strategy for liver fibrosis. As the core participant of liver fibrosis, liver macrophages affect the progression and regression of liver fibrosis and are thus considered an important target for the treatment of liver fibrosis. With the recent advances in the field of immune metabolism, metabolic reprogramming has become a key factor for determining the outcome of macrophages and promoting the development of diseases. This article reviews the role and metabolic changes of macrophages during liver fibrosis and discusses the anti-fibrotic potential of targeting macrophage metabolism, so as to provide new ideas for the development, progression, and treatment of liver fibrosis.
