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Mouse Models of Liver Fibrosis

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Myofibroblasts

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2299))

Abstract

Liver fibrosis is defined as excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix, and results from maladaptive wound healing processes that occur in response to chronic liver injury and inflammation. The main etiologies of liver fibrosis include nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), chronic viral hepatitis, as well as alcoholic and cholestatic liver disease. In patients, liver fibrosis typically develops over several decades and can progress to cirrhosis, and liver failure due to replacement of functional liver tissue with scar tissue. Additionally, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis are associated with an increased risk for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. On a cellular level, hepatic fibrosis is mediated by activated hepatic stellate cells, the primary fibrogenic cell type of the liver. Murine models are employed to recapitulate, understand, and therapeutically target mechanisms of fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell activation. Here, we summarize different mouse models of liver fibrosis focusing on the most commonly used models of toxic, biliary, and metabolically induced liver fibrosis, triggered by treatment with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), thioacetamide (TAA), bile duct ligation (BDL), 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC), and high-fat diets.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Aashreya Ravichandra & Robert F. Schwabe

  2. Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, ICRC 926, New York, NY, USA

    Robert F. Schwabe

Authors
  1. Aashreya Ravichandra
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  2. Robert F. Schwabe
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert F. Schwabe .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Boris Hinz

  2. Matrix and Mechanobiology Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA

    David Lagares

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Ravichandra, A., Schwabe, R.F. (2021). Mouse Models of Liver Fibrosis. In: Hinz, B., Lagares, D. (eds) Myofibroblasts. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2299. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1382-5_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1382-5_23

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-1381-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-1382-5

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