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Review

Contribution of Resident Stem Cells to Liver and Biliary Tree Regeneration in Human Diseases

1
Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Borelli 50, 00161 Rome, Italy
2
Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, Piazza Lauro de Bosis 6, 00135 Rome, Italy
3
Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100 Latina, Italy
4
Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 151, 00161 Rome, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(10), 2917; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19102917
Received: 29 August 2018 / Revised: 18 September 2018 / Accepted: 19 September 2018 / Published: 25 September 2018
Two distinct stem/progenitor cell populations of biliary origin have been identified in the adult liver and biliary tree. Hepatic Stem/progenitor Cells (HpSCs) are bipotent progenitor cells located within the canals of Hering and can be differentiated into mature hepatocytes and cholangiocytes; Biliary Tree Stem/progenitor Cells (BTSCs) are multipotent stem cells located within the peribiliary glands of large intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts and able to differentiate into hepatic and pancreatic lineages. HpSCs and BTSCs are endowed in a specialized niche constituted by supporting cells and extracellular matrix compounds. The actual contribution of these stem cell niches to liver and biliary tree homeostatic regeneration is marginal; this is due to the high replicative capabilities and plasticity of mature parenchymal cells (i.e., hepatocytes and cholangiocytes). However, the study of human liver and biliary diseases disclosed how these stem cell niches are involved in the regenerative response after extensive and/or chronic injuries, with the activation of specific signaling pathways. The present review summarizes the contribution of stem/progenitor cell niches in human liver diseases, underlining mechanisms of activation and clinical implications, including fibrogenesis and disease progression. View Full-Text
Keywords: hepatic stem/progenitor cells; biliary tree stem/progenitor cells; liver regeneration; liver fibrosis; cholangiopathies; peribiliary glands; ductular reaction hepatic stem/progenitor cells; biliary tree stem/progenitor cells; liver regeneration; liver fibrosis; cholangiopathies; peribiliary glands; ductular reaction
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MDPI and ACS Style

Overi, D.; Carpino, G.; Cardinale, V.; Franchitto, A.; Safarikia, S.; Onori, P.; Alvaro, D.; Gaudio, E. Contribution of Resident Stem Cells to Liver and Biliary Tree Regeneration in Human Diseases. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 2917. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19102917

AMA Style

Overi D, Carpino G, Cardinale V, Franchitto A, Safarikia S, Onori P, Alvaro D, Gaudio E. Contribution of Resident Stem Cells to Liver and Biliary Tree Regeneration in Human Diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018; 19(10):2917. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19102917

Chicago/Turabian Style

Overi, Diletta, Guido Carpino, Vincenzo Cardinale, Antonio Franchitto, Samira Safarikia, Paolo Onori, Domenico Alvaro, and Eugenio Gaudio. 2018. "Contribution of Resident Stem Cells to Liver and Biliary Tree Regeneration in Human Diseases" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 19, no. 10: 2917. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19102917

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