Hepatic fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis: Kruppel-like factors and beyond

摘要

The understanding of hepatic fibrosis, or the liver's scarring response has emerged as a major focus of current research in hepatology. In particular, hepatic stellate cell activation is a central event in fibrogenesis, and has contributed to a detailed understanding of fibrosis pathogenesis. What is less clear, however, is why the fibrotic milieu accelerates emergence of hepatocellular carcinoma.