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Cell identity conversion in liver regeneration after injury
Qiang He1, Lei Cui1, Xiang Yuan1
1State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
Current Opinion in Genetics & Development
|June 1, 2022
Summary
Mature liver cells can change identity during liver injury, aiding regeneration. Understanding this cell identity conversion is key for developing new regenerative therapies for liver repair.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology and regenerative medicine
- Cell biology and tissue repair
Background:
- Cell identity conversion is crucial for liver regeneration following injury.
- Mature hepatocytes and cholangiocytes can transform into other cell types.
- Understanding these cellular dynamics is vital for advancing liver repair strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in cell identity conversion during liver regeneration.
- To explore conversions between hepatocytes and cholangiocytes.
- To discuss hepatocyte reprogramming into liver progenitor-like cells.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on cell identity conversion in liver injury.
- Analysis of cellular reprogramming mechanisms.
- Proposal of a quantitative approach using Waddington's landscape.
Main Results:
- Cell identity conversion, including hepatocyte-cholangiocyte interconversion and hepatocyte reprogramming, is a significant factor in liver regeneration.
- Existing research highlights the plasticity of liver cells during injury.
- A quantitative framework is proposed for a unified description of cellular states.
Conclusions:
- Cell identity conversion is a fundamental process in liver regeneration and repair.
- Further characterization of these conversions will drive the development of regenerative therapies.
- A quantitative approach based on Waddington's landscape offers a promising direction for future research.
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