Emerging advanced approaches for diagnosis and inhibition of liver fibrogenesis

Abstract

Liver fibrosis results from chronic liver injury and is characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins including collagen. It can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure. Multiple cellular signaling pathways drive hepatic stellate cell activation and fibrogenesis. Advances in biomarkers, imaging modalities, and omics platforms enable noninvasive diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis. Emerging antifibrotic approaches include medications like pirfenidone, obeticholic acid, and monoclonal antibodies targeting pro-fibrotic mediators. Cell therapies using mesenchymal stem cells demonstrate antifibrotic potential through paracrine immunosuppression. Tissue-engineered liver grafts and biomaterial carriers for localized drug delivery are promising technologies. Microfluidic liver-on-a-chip platforms with patient-derived cells provide unprecedented models to study human liver fibrosis and test drug candidates. Significant progress has elucidated mechanisms underlying liver fibrogenesis and uncovered novel therapeutic targets. Ongoing challenges include translating preclinical findings, improving antifibrotic efficacy, and enabling personalized precision medicine approaches. Further research into combinatorial therapies, biomarkers, and tissue engineering technologies will advance the treatment of liver fibrosis from all causes.