Figure 1.

Crosstalk between liver cells and their response to different stimuli. Hepatocytes, Kupffer cells (KCs), hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and dendritic cells (DCs) are the most important liver cells within the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Diet-induced lipid overload will generate lipotoxicity and glucotoxicity with the consequent endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrial stress inducing the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a deregulated unfolded protein response (UPR) developing apoptosis and liver injury. Damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMPs) will activate myeloid-derived cells promoting inflammation and the transdifferentiation of HSCs to myofibroblasts developing fibrosis.