The role of vasoactive hormones in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis

慢性肝病最重要的后果之一是发展为进行性肝纤维化或瘢痕形成。这一过程导致了许多危及生命的肝病并发症，然而，相关机制尚未完全了解，也没有既定的治疗方法。肝硬变或肝脏瘢痕形成的病因很多，从病毒性肝炎到遗传性和自身免疫性疾病都有不同的病因。不管原因如何，纤维化似乎沿着一条共同的途径发展到最终的肝硬变。我们将研究被认为参与刺激肝疤痕形成的途径，特别是那些导致其激活和永久存在的途径。假设这些途径将被证明是治疗和预防肝纤维化的潜在靶点。

One of the most important consequences of chronic liver disease is the development of progressive liver fibrosis or scarring. This process is responsible for many of the life-threatening complications of liver disease, however, the mechanisms responsible are not completely understood and there are no established treatments. The aetiologies of cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, are many and vary from viral hepatitis to inherited and autoimmune disorders. Regardless of the cause, it appears that fibrosis develops down a common pathway leading to eventual cirrhosis. We will study the pathways that are thought to be involved in the stimulation of liver scarring, in particular, focusing on those that lead to its activation and perpetuation. It is hypothesised that these pathways will prove to be potential targets for the treatment and prevention of liver fibrosis.