Prostacyclin in liver disease: a potential therapeutic option.

Complex molecular and cellular mechanismsare involved in t progression of hepatic fibrosis. Recent studies have show stellate cells, endothelin, cytokines and prostacyclin play cru pathology. Prostacyclin exerts vasorelaxant, antioxidant properties that prevent the development of fibrosis and cirr eases. In thiseditorial, the authorsdiscusssome of the molec mechanismsinvolved in the initiation and progression of liver role played by prostacyclin in counteracting it. At the momen limited information isavailable from clinical studiesdemonstr tivenessof prostacyclin in liver diseasesand thismakesit diffi conclusions; further efforts are necessary to verify wheth alone or in combination with other drugs, may be a valid the in liver diseases.