Hybrid Hepatocytes in Liver Regeneration

The liver is the most regenerative of organs, capable of regrowing lost sections even in mammals. Here researchers identify a novel population of cells that contributes to that capacity for regrowth, and which might prove to be the basis for regenerative therapies: The mechanisms that allow the liver to repair and regenerate itself have long been a matter of debate. Of all major organs, the liver has the highest capacity to regenerate -- that's why many liver diseases, including cirrhosis and hepatitis, can often be cured by transplanting a piece of liver from a healthy donor. The liver's regenerative properties were previously credited to a population of adult stem cells known as oval cells. But recent studies concluded that oval cells don't give rise to hepatocytes; instead, they develop into bile duct cells. These findings prompted researchers to begin looking elsewhere for the source of new hepatocytes in liver regeneration. Researchers traced the cells responsible for replenishing hepatocytes following chronic liver injury induced by exposure to carbon tetrachloride, a common environmental toxin. That's when they found a unique population of hepatocytes located in one specific area of the liver, called the portal triad. These special hepatocytes, the researchers found, undergo extensive proliferation and replenish liver mass after chronic liver injuries. Since the cells are similar to normal hepatocytes, but express low levels of bile duct cell-specific genes, the rese...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs