Hepatic progenitor cells and fibrosis in the choline deficient/ethionine induced model of liver damage

When severe liver injury coincides with incapacity of the left-over hepatocytes to proliferate, activation of dormant rescue cells occurs. These liver progenitor cells (LPCs) are believed to repopulate the damaged liver with, at least, hepatocytes and bile duct cells. For this LPC-aided regeneration, a well orchestrated symphony of secreted cytokines and growth factors, and both cell-cell and cell-matrix interaction is necessary. We developed a particular interest in the relationship between LPCs and extracellular matrix (ECM)/hepatic stellate cells (HSCs)