Stem Cell Research For Liver Regeneration

Although there are many reports describing liver stem cells the measures used to define liver stem cells have not necessarily been adequate in many cases.

Stem cell research for liver regeneration.

The majority of the liver 80 is made up of liver cells called hepatocytes. Acute liver failure may be life threatening and at one time it was deemed non reversible. Liver regeneration has been recognized for many years dating all the way back to prometheus in ancient greek mythology. The liver has the greatest regenerative capacity of any organ in the body.

The stem cell for the liver has been defined as the cell that gives rise to both hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells cholangiocytes the two types of liver epithelial cells. This new research indicates that there is a second mode of regeneration that may be repairing less radical but more constant liver damage and chips away at a long held theory that there s a pool of stem cells in the liver waiting to be activated. 1 cells responsible for normal tissue turnover 2 cells that give rise to. While little is known about the precise molecular mechanism governing liver regeneration much research has explored the signals and stem cells that hold the potential for liver regeneration.

Definitions for the liver stem cell include the following. By understanding what controls liver regeneration in chronic injury our group aims to be able to promote healthy liver regeneration and reduce the formation of liver cirrhosis and cancer. Cell therapy for liver regeneration. There are 3 linked programs of research.

The research describes the cell as having stem cell like properties with the potential to regenerate damaged liver cells and treat disease in the organ without the need for a transplant. One of the primary reasons for this controversy is the use of multiple definitions for the hepatic stem cell. Basic biology of the hepatic progenitor cell niche.