Fig. 9: Schematic diagram of mechanisms for macrophage functions in the cholestatic liver fibrosis.

The accumulated bile acids caused liver injuries in cholestatic livers, which attracted the monocytes/macrophages from the peripheral circulation to repair damages. Once monocytes/macrophages cells reached the injured areas, H19 increased their activation and polarization and subsequently promoted the liver fibrosis progression. H19 can induce macrophage migration into the injured liver. H19 also promotes macrophage differentiation and polarization in the cholestatic livers.