A novel in vitro model of alcohol-induced hepatic fibrogenesis

Chronic alcohol consumption is one of the main etiological factors for liver disease worldwide, however, only a fraction of drinkers develops significant hepatic inflammation, and even less progresses to significant hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. Still, there are no experimental models that lead to relevant hepatic fibrosis, and there is a high need to unravel the mechanisms and factors promoting hepatic injury in alcoholic liver disease (ALD).The aim of this study was to establish an in vitro model to study the hepatocyte mediated effects of alcohol on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the central mediators of li…