Pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis analyzed at the proteome level.

Proteomic technologies have provided effective approaches to the analysis of the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. A large number of proteins that have been revealed by this technology play a critical role in various aspects of pathological liver fibrosis. Comprehensive evaluations of these proteins have led to the understanding that the mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis can be stratified into several broad classifications. Here, we describe the mechanisms of action that are defined as being related to 1) oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage, 2) inflammatory response and immune injury, 3) abnormal cell proliferation and apoptosis, 4) abnormal metabolism, 5) abnormal cellular signal transduction, and 6) abnormal extracellular matrix metabolism.