Liver Constituent Cells: Their Niche, Close Intercellular Relationship and Crosstalk with the Extracellular Environment—Current and Future Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

The liver is complex anatomy-wise and comprises different specialised cell types. Within the hepatic parenchyma, mainly formed by hepatocytes, it is possible to identify a liver microcirculatory milieu composed of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and resident macrophages (Kupffer cells). Also present in the hepatic parenchyma are biliary ductules made up by cholangiocytes. Sinusoids, hepatocytes and biliary ductules are anatomically similar, and the extracellular matrix takes part not only in spatial arrangement, but also in cellular crosstalk. The 3D structure, together with the composition of the extracellular matrix and the cell behaviour, is strictly involved in the liver physiological and pathophysiological processes. For example, the cause-and-effect relationships between the different liver cells and the exact timing that leads to CLDs still remain unclear. The capillarisation observed in the pathophysiology of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis was previously thought to follow the onset of hepatic inflammation; however, the current view holds that it occurs prior to inflammation. Furthermore, changes in the sinusoids and the perisinusoidal space (also known as the Disse space) in chronic liver diseases (CLDs) prevent drug delivery to the hepatic parenchyma, highlighting the urgent need to develop new effective pharmaceutical formulations. 

This Special Issue aims to both report the most recent findings and current opinions on the biological constituents of the liver, their niche and the close intercellular relationship and crosstalk at anatomical and cell molecular levels in both health and disease. Priority will be given to research on the biological barriers formed during liver disease, their description and the therapeutic approaches to overcome them. 

We welcome research and review articles, as well as short communications.

Dr. Marco Fidaleo
Dr. Fausto Andreola
Guest Editors

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