Journal of Liver

Advances in hepatic stem/progenitor cell biology and their therapeutic potential for liver diseasescurrent scenario

World Congress on Hepatitis

July 20-22, 2015 Orlando, Florida, USA

Dollé Laurent, Stefaan Verhulst, Jan Best, Kimberly Lagaisse, Danielle Blyweert and Leo A Van Grunsven

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Liver

Abstract:

The liver is famous for its strong regenerative capacity employing different modes of regeneration according to type and extent of injury. Mature liver cells are able to proliferate in order to replace the damaged tissue allowing the recovery of the parenchymal function. In more severe scenarios hepatocytes are believed to arise also from a facultative hepatic stem/ progenitor cell (HSPC) compartment. In human, severe acute liver failure and liver cirrhosis are also both important clinical targets in which regeneration is impaired where the role of this stem cell compartment seems more convincing. In animal models, the current state of ambiguity regarding the identity and role of liver progenitor cells in liver physiology dampens the enthusiasm for the potential use of these cells in regenerative medicine. The aim of this talk is to give the basics of liver progenitor cell biology and discuss recent results vis-à-vis their identity and contribution to liver regeneration. In these last couple of years we have learned much about the pathways and conditions involved in HSPC activation thanks to sophisticated genetically modified mouse models. These same models are currently in conflict about the existence and function of HSPCs during liver injury and regeneration. Perhaps novel mouse liver injury models, more representative of human disease need to be developed to fully unravel the existence, identity and function of HSPCs.