Stem Cells and Liver Regeneration

Andrew W. Duncan, Craig Dorrell, Markus Grompe

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

440 Scopus citations

Abstract

One of the defining features of the liver is the capacity to maintain a constant size despite injury. Although the precise molecular signals involved in the maintenance of liver size are not completely known, it is clear that the liver delicately balances regeneration with overgrowth. Mammals, for example, can survive surgical removal of up to 75% of the total liver mass. Within 1 week after liver resection, the total number of liver cells is restored. Moreover, liver overgrowth can be induced by a variety of signals, including hepatocyte growth factor or peroxisome proliferators; the liver quickly returns to its normal size when the proliferative signal is removed. The extent to which liver stem cells mediate liver regeneration has been hotly debated. One of the primary reasons for this controversy is the use of multiple definitions for the hepatic stem cell. Definitions for the liver stem cell include the following: (1) cells responsible for normal tissue turnover, (2) cells that give rise to regeneration after partial hepatectomy, (3) cells responsible for progenitor-dependent regeneration, (4) cells that produce hepatocyte and bile duct epithelial phenotypes in vitro, and (5) transplantable liver-repopulating cells. This review will consider liver stem cells in the context of each definition.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)466-481
Number of pages16
JournalGastroenterology
Volume137
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hepatology
  • Gastroenterology

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