Mechanisms of angiogenesis in chronic inflammatory liver disease.

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 and molecules involved in matrix remodeling and cell migration, as weel as vessel maturation-related factors. In recent years a number of studies have investigated the expression and function of many pro- and antiangiogenic molecules in chronic liver diseases and liver regeneration. This review examines the potential pathogenic role of angiogenesis in the context of viral hepatitis, autoinmmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.