Fibrogenesis in alcoholic liver disease

Core Tip

Core tip: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality worldwide. In ALD-associated fibrosis, hepatic stellate cells are the principal cell type responsible for extracellular matrix production. Although the mechanisms underlying ALD-associated fibrosis are largely similar to those observed in other chronic liver diseases, oxidative stress, abnormal methionine metabolism, hepatocyte apoptosis, and endotoxin lipopolysaccharides that activate Kupffer cells play unique roles in fibrogenesis in ALD. Recently, lipogenesis during the early stages of ALD has been implicated as a risk factor for progression of cirrhosis. Other critical factors include osteopontin, interleukin-1 signaling, and genetic polymorphisms.