Inflammation and fibrosis in chronic liver diseases including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatitis C

Figure 4 Matrix and cellular alteration in hepatic fibrosis. Normal liver parenchyma contains epithelial cells (hepatocytes) and nonparenchymal cells: fenestrated sinusoidal endothelium, hepatic stellate cells, and Kupffer cells. A: After injury, the stellate cells become activated and secrete large amounts of extracellular matrix (ECM); B: Deposition of ECM in the space of Disse leads to the loss of both endothelial fenestrations and hepatocyte microvilli. Reproduced with permission from Hernandez-Gea and Friedman[37]. HSC: Hepatic stellate cells; KC: Kupffer cells.