Regulation of liver fibrosis by tuning M2 macrophage signaling through IL-4Ralpha

Progression and Regression of liver fibrosis have been linked with the innate immune system, especially macrophages. Depending on stimulation by different cytokines or LPS, macrophages can differentiate roughly into M1 (classical) and M2 (alternative) macrophages. The roles of M1 and M2 in liver fibrosis progression or regression are largely unexplored. We used the CCl4-model of liver fibrosis progression (6 weeks) and spontaneous regression after omission of the toxin (2 weeks) in C57BL6 mice, and the model of Mdr2KO mice (spontaneous biliary fibrosis progression) to assess the role of M2 and their manipulation…