Cellular communication network factor 1‐stimulated liver macrophage efferocytosis drives hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis
Ki‐Hyun Kim, Naiyuan Cheng, Lester F. Lau – 4 August 2022 – Following inflammatory injury in the liver, neutrophils quickly infiltrate the injured tissue to defend against microbes and initiate the repair process; these neutrophils are short lived and rapidly undergo apoptosis. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the principal precursor cells that transdifferentiate into myofibroblast‐like cells, which produce a large amount of extracellular matrix that promotes repair but can also lead to fibrosis if the injury becomes chronic.