title: Oval cell-mediated liver regeneration: Role of cytokines and growth factors.
abstract: In experimental models, which induce liver damage and simultaneously block hepatocyte proliferation, the recruitment of a hepatic progenitor cell population comprised of oval cells is invariably observed. There is a substantial body of evidence to suggest that oval cells are involved in liver regeneration, as they differentiate into hepatocytes and biliary cells. Recently, bone marrow cells were shown to be a source of a stem cells with the capacity to repopulate the liver. Presently, the relationship between bone marrow cells and oval cells is unclear. Investigations will be greatly assisted by the availability of in vitro models based on a knowledge of cytokines that affect oval cells. While the cytokines, which regulate the different hematopoietic lineages, are well characterized, there is relatively little information regarding those that influence oval cells. This review outlines recent developments in the field of oval cell research and focuses on cytokines and growth factors that have been implicated in regulating oval cell proliferation and differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Western Australian Institute for Medical Research, School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
authors.forename: Kym N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lowes
authors.forename: Emma J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Croager
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Olynyk
authors.forename: Lawrence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: George C T
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Yeoh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006133:Growth Substances