Clin Mol Hepatol.  2025 Jan;31(1):32-55. 10.3350/cmh.2024.0734.

Sinusoidal communication in chronic liver disease

• Gibert-Ramos A
• Andrés-Rozas M
• Pastó R
• Alfaro-Retamero P
• Guixé-Muntet S
• Gracia-Sancho J

• KMID: 2563406
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3350/cmh.2024.0734

Abstract

The liver sinusoid, mainly composed of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, hepatic macrophages and hepatic stellate cells, shapes the hepatic vasculature and is key to maintaining liver homeostasis and function. During chronic liver disease (CLD), the function of sinusoidal cells is impaired, being directly involved in the progression of liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and main clinical complications including portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition to their roles in liver diseases pathobiology, sinusoidal cells’ paracrine communication or cross-talk is being studied as a mechanism of disease but also as a remarkable target for treatment. The aim of this review is to gather current knowledge of intercellular signalling in the hepatic sinusoid during the progression of liver disease. We summarise studies developed in pre-clinical models of CLD, especially emphasizing those pathways characterized in human-based clinically relevant models. Finally, we describe pharmacological treatments targeting sinusoidal communication as promising options to treat CLD and its clinical complications.

Keyword

Hepatic sinusoid; Chronic liver disease; Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells; Hepatic stellate cells; Kupffer cells