Figure 1 Functions, features and phenotypes of HSCs in normal and diseased livers Figure 1 | Functions, features and phenotypes of HSCs in normal and diseased livers. Liver injury initiates the transdifferentiation of quiescent hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to their activated phenotype. Perpetuation follows, characterized by specific phenotypic changes including proliferation, contractility, fibrogenesis, altered matrix degradation, chemotaxis and inflammatory signalling. During resolution of hepatic fibrosis, activated HSCs can be cleared by apoptosis or reversion to an inactivated phenotype. Adapted with permission from the Mount Sinai Health System. Adapted with permission from the Mount Sinai Health System Tsuchida, T. & Friedman, S. L. (2017) Mechanisms of hepatic stellate cell activation Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2017.38