Figure 1.

Cellular events in hepatic fibrosis. As fibrosis develops in response to liver injury, stellate cell activation leads to accumulation of scar matrix. This in turn contributes to the loss of hepatocyte microvilli and endothelial fenestrae, which results in the deterioration of hepatic function. Kupffer cell (macrophage) activation contributes to the activation of stellate cells. Figure modified with permission from The Journal of Biological Chemistry (24).