Collection 

Fibrosis: mechanisms and targets

Fibrosis is characterized by the excess accumulation of extracellular matrix components, leading to disrupted tissue function in affected organs. Fibrosis can develop in nearly every part of the body, and is an important driver of end-stage organ failure and death in a variety of chronic diseases. The high proportion of individuals affected by organ fibrosis and the associated morbidity and mortality of fibrotic disease has led to ongoing efforts to understand the mechanisms involved in the activation of fibroblasts and abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix, with the aim of developing new therapeutic strategies to prevent or treat fibrotic disease. The goal of this collection is to highlight the latest developments in this field and provide insights into the pathological processes of fibrosis and efforts to identify therapeutic avenues.

The collection consists of Reviews and Research articles from several Nature journals, describing the latest advances in fibrosis research in various organs, including the liver, kidney, heart, skin and lung. It also includes relevant News and Opinion articles and additional content, including a selection of peer-reviewed procedures from Nature Protocols, and a PrimeView, which summarizes the main features of systemic sclerosis.