Exploration of Drug Targets for Liver Fibrosis Based on Hepatic Stellate Cells and Extracellular Matrix Remodeling
A Special Issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X) belonging to the section "Molecular Medicine".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2027 | Viewed by 1732
Editor
Interests: antiretroviral therapy; hepatic diseases; liver fibrosis; mitochondria; autophagy; mitochondrial dysfunction and its role in pathogenesis; cellular mechanisms involved in the toxicity of antiretroviral drugs and HIV, with special focus on mitochondrial function; endoplasmic reticular stress and activation of survival programs (autophagy) and cellular death (apoptosis)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Liver fibrosis (LF) is a pathological wound-healing response manifested through the excessive buildup of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the liver as a result of prolonged inflammation and injury. It is the common denominator of most types of chronic liver disease caused by different etiologies (alcohol consumption, viral hepatitis, and steatosis related to metabolic dysfunction being the most common). If it progresses, LF can lead to severe, irreversible damage called cirrhosis, causing liver failure, portal hypertension with its complications (ascites, jaundice, and bleeding), and the development of HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma). Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into a myofibroblast phenotype represents a key event in LF, as these cells are the primary source of ECM. Of note, although improved management of the underlying diseases can halt progression and, to an extent, even reverse LF, there are currently no specific approved antifibrotic therapies. Recent research has focused on HSCs and, specifically, ECM remodeling as therapeutic targets.
Prof. Dr. Nadezda Apostolova
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- liver fibrosis
- collagen
- hepatic stellate cells
- senescence
- animal models
- extracellular matrix
- hepatitis
- cytokines
- biomarkers
- MASH
- MASLD
- cirrhosis
- hepatocellular carcinoma
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
