Modulation of hepatic stellate cells and reversibility of hepatic fibrosis

•We present a review of the modulation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and reversibility of hepatic fibrosis (HF).•HSC are the foci of HF occurrence and development, HF could be prevented and treated by modulating HSC.•If HSC activation and proliferation can be inhibited, HF could theoretically be inhibited and even reversed.•Prevention or reversal of HSC activation, or promotion of HSC apoptosis, immune elimination, and senescence may prevent, inhibit or reverse HF.

Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is the pathological component of a variety of chronic liver diseases. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are the main collagen-producing cells in the liver and their activation promotes HF. If HSC activation and proliferation can be inhibited, HF occurrence and development can theoretically be reduced and even reversed. Over the past ten years, a number of studies have addressed this process, and here we present a review of HSC modulation and HF reversal.