Advertisement
Research Article| Volume 16, ISSUE 2, P341-360, June 1996

Liver Regeneration in Health and Disease

  • Rebecca Taub
    Correspondence
    Address reprint requests to: Rebecca Taub, MD, Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Stellar-Chance 705a, 422 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6145
    Affiliations
    From the Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Search for articles by this author
      This paper is only available as a PDF. To read, Please Download here.
      Liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy results in proliferation of virtually all of the cells in the remnant liver, leading to restitution of mass within a few days. The regenerating liver maintains its functional capacity, and liver-specific factors, such as C/EBPs, continue to be expressed. Growth-induced transcription factors Stat3 and NF-kB regulate the expression of growth- response genes, ultimately leading to cell growth. Although well- modulated levels of cytokines may promote liver regeneration posthepatectomy, aberrant production of cytokines that can be seen in hepatitis, cirrhosis, and after liver transplantation may lead to hepatomas, fibrosis, and liver failure.