Abstract
The ability to localize transplanted hepatocytes in the liver offers exciting new opportunities. Transplanted hepatocytes enter liver plates, form hybrid plasma membrane structures with adjacent hepatocytes, express liver genes correctly, and survive indefinitely. The transplanted cell mass is regulated, such that cell proliferation is limited in the normal adult liver, whereas the liver is repopulated extensively when proliferation rates in transplanted and host hepatocytes become dissociated or host hepatocytes are ablated selectively. Transplanted hepatocytes are susceptible to hepatitis viruses. These aspects of transplanted hepatocyte biology indicate that liver repopulation systems can help address questions concerning pathophysiological mechanisms.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | G1097-G1102 |
Journal | American Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology |
Volume | 277 |
Issue number | 6 40-6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1999 |
Keywords
- Hepatitis B virus
- Hepatocyte
- Transplantation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Hepatology
- Gastroenterology
- Physiology (medical)