Efficacy and safety of anti-hepatic fibrosis drugs

Figure 1 Hepatic fibrosis and subsequent cirrhosis caused by a variety of different etiologies, is a balance between fibrosis formation (fibrogenesis) and fibrinolysis. Anti-fibrotic drugs target a variety of mechanisms involved in this balance between formation of extracellular matrix and subsequent fibrosis and its breakdown (fibrinolysis). Transforming growth factor-β is the most influential cytokine in the induction of fibrogenesis, as it plays a pivotal role in hepatic stellate cells activation and myofibroblast formation. NAFLD: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; NASH: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; MAFLD: Metabolic associated fatty liver disease; HSC: Hepatic stellate cells; ECM: Extracellular matrix.