Article

Angiogenesis in chronic inflammatory liver disease.

Liver Unit, Hospital de la Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
Hepatology (impact factor: 11.66). 06/2004; 39(5):1185-95. DOI:10.1002/hep.20193 pp.1185-95
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Intrahepatic hypoxia may occur during the inflammatory and fibrotic processes that characterize several chronic liver diseases of viral and autoimmune origin. As a consequence, new vascular structures are formed to provide oxygen and nutrients. Angiogenesis involves a tightly regulated network of cellular and molecular mechanisms that result in the formation of functional vessels. Of particular importance are growth factors, molecules involved in matrix remodeling and cell migration, and vessel maturation-related factors. In recent years, a number of studies have examined the expression and function of many pro- and antiangiogenic molecules in the setting of nontumoral chronic liver diseases and liver regeneration. This review examines the potential pathogenetic role of angiogenesis in the context of viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and alcoholic liver disease. The future perspectives for research in this field are outlined.

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Keywords

alcoholic liver disease
 
Angiogenesis
 
autoimmune hepatitis
 
autoimmune origin
 
cell migration
 
cellular
 
chronic liver diseases
 
cirrhosis
 
fibrotic processes
 
functional vessels
 
Intrahepatic hypoxia
 
molecular mechanisms
 
new vascular structures
 
nontumoral chronic liver diseases
 
nutrients
 
potential pathogenetic role
 
primary biliary cirrhosis
 
recent years
 
regulated network
 
review examines
 

Jesús Medina