This volume, the proceedings of the International Falk Symposium held in Marburg, Germany, in January 1992, summarizes the most recent advances in the study of cellular and molecular mechanisms of fibrosis provided by contributions from the leading scientists in this field.
It updates our knowledge on the basic components of fibrosis, on the cellularorigin and degradation of matrix components, on peptide and non-peptide mediators, cellular cooperation and other mechanisms of fibrogenesis, on the role of the extracellular matrix as modulator of fibrogenesis, and on some aspects of antifibrotic trials and biochemical monitoring of the development of fibrosis.
Since liver fibrogenesis has, to a certain extent, attained the status of a model for fibrotic tissue reactions that occur generally in various organs and tissues, the fundamental processes described here may be relevant for other sites of tissue repairs and fibrosis, for would healing and even for atherogenesis.