Pathogenic role of oxidative and nitrosative stress in primary biliary cirrhosis

Figure 2 Pathophysiological mechanisms of liver damage in primary biliary cirrhosis. Autoimmune attack and cholestasis are both responsible for the injury to biliary epithelial cells and hepatocytes. Cell damage results in inflammatory processes with activation of hepatic stellate cells and expression of myofibroblasts leading to fibrosis and cirrhosis. A myriad of mediators have a role in these events. IGF-1: Insulin-like growth factor-1; PDGF: Platelet-derived growth factor; TGF-β: Transforming growth factor beta; ET-1: Endothelin-1; ROS: Reactive oxygen species; RNS: Reactive nitrogen species.