Gene expression profiles of hepatic cell-type specific marker genes in progression of liver fibrosis

Figure 9 Circuit model of hepatic cells in fibrogenesis. Gene expression profiles show that HSCs have self-activating properties, and that widespread damage to hepatocytes occurred in development of fibrosis, suggesting a self-activating circuit model of fibrogenesis. After an initial stimulatory trigger caused by events such as virus infection, hepatic cells are able to stimulate each other, and the self-activating properties of HSCs maintain this cycle over the long term. Details are given in the text.