Signal transduction involved in activation of hepatic stellate cells

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the source of fibre in the liver which can produce a large number of extracellular matrix via proliferation and activation, and this is the central link of hepatic fibrosis. Following further research on hepatic fibrosis, signal transduction involved in the activation of HSCs have been researched as a popular topic. This paper generalizes the main signaling transduction pathways involved in activation of HSCs and Hedgehog/Gli pathway, and introduces recent advances in related research. It is promising to make new breakthroughs in the prevention and treatment of hepatic fibrosis through in - depth study of these signaling pathways.