Signaling Pathways in Liver Fibrosis Process

Dear Colleagues,

Hepatic fibrogenesis is a complex process driven by a variety of pathogenic signaling transduction processes modulating the biology in parenchymal and non-parenchymal liver cells. Most important are cytokine and chemokine networks that orchestrate an inflammatory response that leads to the recruitment and activation of distinct leukocyte subsets. Moreover, the different molecular mediators target specific signaling branches that lead to increased formation of extracellular matrix. Simultaneously, different classes of reactive oxygen species are formed, resulting in enhanced oxidant stress and liver cell damage. Persistent liver damage results in sequential progression from inflammation to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, there is a great deal of basic and clinical research ongoing to interrogate core molecular pathways underlying fibrosis because early intervention is of paramount importance.

In this Special Issue of Livers, I cordially invite you to contribute, in the form of original research articles, reviews, or shorter perspective articles, on all aspects related to the theme of “Signaling Pathways in Liver Fibrosis Process”. Expert articles describing mechanistic, functional, cellular, biochemical, or general aspects of hepatic fibrosis are highly welcome. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:

• Cytokine signaling;
• Chemokine function;
• Models of hepatic fibrosis;
• Immune-mediated aspects in hepatic fibrosis;
• Extracellular matrix synthesis in hepatic fibrosis;
• Inflammatory signals leading to liver fibrosis;
• NASH/NAFLD;
• Alcohol-related alteration of hepatic homeostasis;
• Viral-hepatitis-induced fibrogenesis;
• miRNA in hepatic fibrogenesis;
• Contribution of microbiota in hepatic fibrosis;
• Bioimaging of hepatic fibrosis;
• Aspects of translational medicine in therapy of hepatic fibrosis.

Prof. Dr. Ralf Weiskirchen
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Livers is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• liver disease
• signaling
• pathogenesis
• cytokine
• chemokine
• extracellular matrix
• oxidative stress
• unfolded protein response
• hepatic stellate cells
• myofibroblasts