Extracellular vesicles targeting non-parenchymal cells: the therapeutical effect on liver fibrosis

Abstract

Liver fibrosis is the formation of a fibrous scar due to chronic liver disease including viral hepatitis, alcohol and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Without treatment, it will develop into cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Up to now, there is no effective way to cure liver fibrosis. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are biological nanoparticles with potential to be therapeutical agents or delivery tools. A lot of studies have demonstrated the therapeutical effect of EVs on liver fibrosis. In this review, we mainly pay attention to roles of liver non-parenchymal cells in pathology of fibrosis, the basic information about EVs and therapeutical effect on liver fibrosis of EVs when they act on non-parenchymal cells.