Two independent preclinical advances target liver fibrosis from complementary angles. A CAR‑macrophage therapy reduced fibrosis in mouse models, demonstrating that engineered macrophages can be reprogrammed to clear fibrotic tissue and modify the hepatic microenvironment. The study provides proof-of-concept for cell-based anti-fibrotic interventions. Separately, researchers identified NEK7 as a kinase that interacts with SDHB to preserve mitochondrial electron-transport balance and prevent fibrogenesis. The mechanistic work links mitochondrial homeostasis to stellate‑cell activation and extracellular matrix deposition, suggesting druggable nodes upstream of fibrosis progression. Together, these studies highlight parallel translational routes—cell therapy and small‑molecule/targeted modulation—toward a condition with few approved disease‑modifying treatments.