Liver Stem Cells: Experimental Findings and Implications for Human Liver Disease

Gastroenterology. 2015 Oct;149(4):876-882. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2015.08.004. Epub 2015 Aug 14.

Abstract

Evidence from human histopathology and experimental studies with rodents and zebrafish has shown that hepatocytes and cholangiocytes may function as facultative stem cells for each other in conditions of impaired regeneration. The interpretation of the findings derived from these studies has generated considerable discussion and some controversies. This review examines the evidence obtained from the different experimental models and considers implications that these studies may have for human liver disease.

Keywords: Cholangiocytes; Hepatocytes; Liver Progenitor Cell; Liver-Specific Tissue Stem Cells; Transdifferentiation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / metabolism
  • Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / pathology*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Hepatocytes / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Liver Diseases / genetics
  • Liver Diseases / metabolism
  • Liver Diseases / pathology*
  • Liver Regeneration
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Stem Cells / pathology*