Beyond hepatic stellate cell heterogeneity: Resolving fibrosis, restoring regeneration (Review)
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), specialized liver‑resident pericytes, play pivotal roles in both liver fibrogenesis and regeneration. Following hepatic injury, quiescent HSCs undergo activation and transdifferentiation into myofibroblasts, which drive tissue remodeling and scar formation. Recent advances have uncovered notable phenotypic and functional heterogeneity within HSC populations, with distinct subsets displaying context‑dependent activation states and specialized functions across diverse liver pathologies. The present review synthesizes current insights into the dynamic spectrum of HSC phenotypes and the molecular mechanisms governing their plasticity, emphasizing the mechanisms through which niche‑specific signaling, epigenetic regulation and metabolic reprogramming coordinate their functional diversity. The present review further discuss emerging therapeutic strategies that leverage this heterogeneity to selectively target pathogenic HSC subsets, while preserving their homeostatic roles, thereby opening new avenues for precision anti‑fibrotic therapies and liver regeneration. .
Institutions: Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University Jingjiang College
Language: English
Subfield: Hepatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7124454295