Cellular and molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis: An update

Figure 2 Hepatic myofibroblasts are a heterogenous population of fibrogenic cells. Hepatic stellate cells are considered to be a major source of liver fibrogenic cells followed by portal fibroblasts that play an important role in the fibrogenic process during cholestatic liver diseases. Other sources of hepatic myofibroblasts include circulating fibrocytes and bone marrow-derived cells that constitute a minor proportion of liver fibrogenic cells. The epithelial origin of liver fibrogenic cells is unlikely. EMT: Epithelial mesenchymal transition; MFBs: Myofibroblasts; HSCs: Hepatic stellate cells.