[Role of stem cells in adult hepatic regeneration]

Central to the successful surgically treatment numerous liver diseases is the ability of the organ to regenerate. The understanding of the process of self-renewal has both changed and progressed over the last few decades. For many years, the assumption was that the liver regenerates primarily through the division of mature liver cells. However, over the last few years there has been increasing evidence of the participation of stem cells. Intrahepatic stem cells, so-called oval cells, are activated under conditions of severe or chronic liver disease and originate from the canals of Hering. In addition, extrahepatic stem cells may migrate from the bone marrow into the liver when the regenerative capacity of the liver itself is depleted. It is not yet fully clear how the different stem cell populations interact with both each other and the mature liver cell population to achieve homeostatic cell and differentiation equilibrium in the diseased and/or regenerating organ. In any case, the outstanding growth potential of liver stem cells may become a clinically viable option in the field of cell transplantation.