肝纤维化进程中细胞衰老的作用及相关机制的研究进展

细胞衰老是指细胞脱离细胞周期并不可逆地丧失增殖能力后进入的一种相对稳定的状态,是细胞生命活动的一种客观规律。细胞衰老与肝纤维化的发生与发展存在密切关系。肝星状细胞的大量活化、增殖和肝细胞的凋亡是肝纤维化病理进程中的关键事件,促进肝星状细胞的衰老可阻断其活化从而实现抗肝纤维化的效果;肝细胞与胆管上皮细胞等各类型细胞的衰老在肝纤维化进程中也有重要作用。本文针对细胞衰老与肝纤维化的关系及其分子机制的研究进展进行了综述。

Progress in roles and mechanisms of cellular senescence in hepatic fibrogenesis

Cellular senescence is defined as departure of cell cycle and entrance into a relatively stable state with an irreversible loss of proliferative capacity. It is a common process of cell life. Cell senescence has a close relationship with hepatic fibrosis. Activation of hepatic stellate cells and apoptosis of hepatocytes has been considered a key event in hepatic fibrogenesis. Recently, it has been proposed that cell senescence can block hepatic stellate cell activation and generate antifibrotic effects. Moreover, senescence of cell types including hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells also plays a role in hepatic fibrosis. This review focuses on the associations between cell senescence and hepatic fibrosis and molecular mechanisms.