Figure 2

Translational aspects of fibrosis research. In hepatology research, diverse cholestatic, toxic, immunogenic and knockout/transgene models, as well as models for portal hypertension, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and fatty liver disease, are presently used. In all of these models, disease progression is associated with hepatic fibrogenesis. These models are suitable to reflect human liver disease of any aetiology. In both the experimental setting (animals) and the clinical setting (humans), the readout systems used to assess hepatic fibrosis are based on blood analysis, histocytochemical analysis and noninvasive imaging techniques. AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; BDL, bile duct ligation; CCl₄, Carbon tetrachloride; DMN, Dimethylnitrosamine; NASH, Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; TAA, Thioacetamide.