Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40655154›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in immunology2025

TGF-β inhibitors: the future for prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis?

Weili Wang, Yilin Gao, Yizhen Chen, Meng Cheng, Yonghao Sang, Liuting Wei, Rong Dai, Yiping Wang, Lei Zhang

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in immunology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
22citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

22 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Weili Wang *First Clinical Medical College, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
Yilin Gao *First Clinical Medical College, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
Yizhen ChenFirst Clinical Medical College, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
Meng ChengDepartment of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
Yonghao SangFirst Clinical Medical College, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
Liuting WeiFirst Clinical Medical College, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
Rong DaiDepartment of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
Yiping WangDepartment of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
Lei ZhangDepartment of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Liver fibrosis is a core pathological process in the progression of chronic liver diseases to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, characterized by abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), through classical small mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad)-dependent and non-Smad-dependent pathways, activates hepatic stellate cells to transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts, promotes extracellular matrix synthesis, and regulates immunity, serving as a key driver of fibrogenesis. This review systematically summarizes the role of TGF-β in liver fibrosis and details the research progress of TGF-β-targeted inhibitors. Studies show that TGF-β neutralizing antibodies, small molecule receptor antagonists, small molecule signaling inhibitors, and natural compounds and extracts significantly improve experimental liver fibrosis by inhibiting Smad or non-Smad pathways. In clinical trials, drugs such as Pirfenidone and Hydronidone have demonstrated potential for fibrosis reversal in patients with chronic hepatitis. Although TGF-β-targeted therapy has made breakthroughs in basic research and clinical translation, future studies need to focus on multi-target drug design, personalized treatment regimens, and novel delivery systems to accelerate the transition from preclinical research to clinical application, providing innovative therapeutic strategies for liver fibrosis and related liver diseases.

Indexed as

Antifibrotic AgentsLiver CirrhosisTransforming Growth Factor betaAnimalsHepatic Stellate CellsHumansSignal TransductionAntifibrotic AgentsTransforming Growth Factor betaantifibrotic therapyhepatic stellate cellsliver fibrosisTGF-β inhibitorsTGF-β signaling pathway

Identifiers

PMID40655154
PMCPMC12245701

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.