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Liver regeneration: biological and pathological mechanisms and implications
George K Michalopoulos1, Bharat Bhushan2
1Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. michalopoulosgk@upmc.edu.
Nature Reviews. Gastroenterology & Hepatology
|August 9, 2020
Summary
The liver uniquely regenerates to maintain homeostasis, unlike other solid organs. This review explores liver regeneration pathways, cell plasticity, and the hepatostat mechanism.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The liver is the sole solid organ capable of complete regeneration to maintain homeostasis.
- Other solid organs exhibit limited compensatory tissue repair after injury.
- Chronic liver disease can lead to adverse outcomes like fibrosis and neoplasia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of liver regenerative pathways.
- To discuss the mechanisms underlying the liver's 'hepatostat' function.
- To explore cellular plasticity in liver regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on liver regeneration.
- Analysis of experimental models including partial hepatectomy and chemical injury.
- Examination of liver recolonization studies.
Main Results:
- Acute liver injury triggers beneficial regeneration via specific signaling pathways.
- Chronic hepatocyte loss can result in detrimental conditions like fibrosis and cirrhosis.
- Hepatocytes and cholangiocytes exhibit facultative stem cell behavior, differentiating into each other when necessary.
- Hepatocytes possess unlimited regenerative capacity, though normal turnover is slow.
Conclusions:
- Liver regeneration is a complex process crucial for maintaining organ homeostasis.
- Understanding these pathways is vital for treating chronic liver diseases.
- Cellular plasticity, including transdifferentiation, plays a key role in restoring liver structure and function.
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