Summary
Cirrhosis is a serious liver disorder that involves scar tissue
formation along with collagen deposition and ultimately leading to liver
dysfunction. There is an imperative need for novel pharmaceuticals that
are devoid of hepatotoxicity. Human stellate cells, adult stem cells,
and non-parenchymal cells were used in the development of co-cultures,
and 3D spheroids for the study of hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and
hepatic carcinomas. Ex-vivo tissue culture techniques also aid in
different stage evaluation of cirrhosis either diet-influential or
drug-induced liver damage. A distinct advantage of experimental animal
models over in vitro cell culture systems is that they allow
researchers to study cell biology through the observation of whole
organs and living organisms.
INTRODUCTION
Cirrhosis is a serious health condition, where along with scar tissue
formation there is deposition of collagen in the liver, finally leading
to liver failure. (1, 2). There is alteration of the structural design
of normal liver cells to structurally abnormal dense bands of fibrosis
which are characterized by the presence of excess collagen resulting in
the formation of abnormal nodules in hepatocytes (3). Widespread fibrous
connective tissues, reformative nodules, changed lobular structure and
the creation of intra-hepatic vasculature divert in the liver’s afferent
and efferent arteries are the prominent morphological changes observed
(4). The pathological changes in hepatocytes can be the consequence of
physical liver injury, viral infestations, medicine induced, hereditary
or due to progression of autoimmune diseases. Although, the liver could
restore the damaged cells via facultative stem cells i.e. biliary
epithelial cells and hepatocytes, however, chronic damage might lead to
fibrosis and dysfunctioning (5). Viral infections (hepatitis B virus and
hepatitis C virus), excessive alcohol consumption, and non-alcoholic
fatty liver syndrome are the concurring factors of cirrhosis (6).
According to World Health Organization (WHO) Global Disease Burden
Database, 199.5 deaths per million population were reported in 2016 due
to this disorder (7).