Function of macrophage-derived exosomes in chronic liver disease: From pathogenesis to treatment

Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the relationship between macrophage-derived exosomes and hepatic fibrosis. Exosome-mediated communication between macrophages and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) influences the disease progression of hepatic fibrosis (HF). Special substances carried in exosomes, such as microRNAs (miR-103-3p[24]; miR-500[70]; miR-155-5p[72]; miR-432-5p[73]; miR-125b-5p[74]; miR-411-5p[75]; miR-690[65]; miR-223[23], are signaling factors that induce the activation of HSC to form cirrhosis or inhibit the activation of HSC to alleviate HF. EVs: Extracellular vesicles; HSC: Hepatic stellate cell; HF: Hepatic fibrosis.