Transitional Remodeling of the Hepatic Extracellular Matrix in Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury

Figure 3

Alcohol-induced liver injury activates the coagulation cascade. Activation of the coagulation cascade contributes to liver injury in models of both acute and chronic alcohol exposure. Alcohol promotes the deposition of fibrin ECM by both increasing its formation (thrombin cleavage of fibrinogen) and preventing its degradation (PAI-1 induction). Fibrin matrices can be proinflammatory by causing hemostasis, acting as an adhesive substrate for migrating inflammatory cells, and altering integrin signaling.