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Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions in the liver.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Choi, SS; Diehl, AM
Published in: Hepatology
December 2009

The outcome of liver injury is dictated by the effectiveness of repair. Successful repair (i.e., regeneration) results in replacement of dead epithelial cells with healthy epithelial cells, and reconstructs normal hepatic structure and function. Liver regeneration is known to involve replication of surviving mature hepatocytes and bile duct cells. This review discusses recent evidence for other mechanisms that might also replace dead hepatic epithelial cells and repair liver damage, particularly during chronic injury. According to this theory, certain epithelial cells in developing livers and/or injured adult livers undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and move into the hepatic mesenchyme where they exhibit fibroblastic features. Some of these epithelia-derived mesenchymal cells, however, may be capable of undergoing subsequent mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET), reverting to epithelial cells that ultimately become hepatocytes or cholangiocytes. Although these concepts remain to be proven, the theory predicts that the balance between EMT and MET modulates the outcome of chronic liver injury. When EMT activity outstrips MET, repair is mainly fibrogenic, causing liver fibrosis. Conversely, predominance of MET favors more normal liver regeneration. In this review, we summarize evidence that certain resident liver cells are capable of EMTs in vitro and during chronic liver injury.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Hepatology

DOI

EISSN

1527-3350

Publication Date

December 2009

Volume

50

Issue

6

Start / End Page

2007 / 2013

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Mesoderm
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells
  • Liver Regeneration
  • Liver Cirrhosis
  • Liver
  • Humans
  • Hepatocytes
  • Gastroenterology & Hepatology
  • Epithelial Cells
  • Cell Transdifferentiation
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
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MLA
NLM
Choi, S. S., & Diehl, A. M. (2009). Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions in the liver. Hepatology, 50(6), 2007–2013. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.23196
Choi, Steve S., and Anna Mae Diehl. “Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions in the liver.Hepatology 50, no. 6 (December 2009): 2007–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.23196.
Choi SS, Diehl AM. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions in the liver. Hepatology. 2009 Dec;50(6):2007–13.
Choi, Steve S., and Anna Mae Diehl. “Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions in the liver.Hepatology, vol. 50, no. 6, Dec. 2009, pp. 2007–13. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/hep.23196.
Choi SS, Diehl AM. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions in the liver. Hepatology. 2009 Dec;50(6):2007–2013.
Journal cover image

Published In

Hepatology

DOI

EISSN

1527-3350

Publication Date

December 2009

Volume

50

Issue

6

Start / End Page

2007 / 2013

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Mesoderm
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells
  • Liver Regeneration
  • Liver Cirrhosis
  • Liver
  • Humans
  • Hepatocytes
  • Gastroenterology & Hepatology
  • Epithelial Cells
  • Cell Transdifferentiation