title: Telocytes in liver regeneration: possible roles.
abstract: Telocytes (TCs) are a novel type of interstitial cells which are potentially involved in tissue regeneration and repair (www.telocytes.com). Previously, we documented the presence of TCs in liver. However, the possible roles of TCs in liver regeneration remain unknown. In this study, a murine model of partial hepatectomy (PH) was used to induce liver regeneration. The number of TCs detected by double labelling immunofluorescence methods (CD34/PDGFR-α, CD34/PDGFR-ß and CD34/Vimentin) was significantly increased when a high level of hepatic cell proliferation rate (almost doubled) as shown by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) immunostaining and Western Blot of Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was found at 48 and 72 hrs post-PH. Meanwhile, the number of CK-19 positive-hepatic stem cells peaked at 72 hrs post-PH, co-ordinating with the same time-point, when the number of TCs was most significantly increased. Taken together, the results indicate a close relationship between TCs and the cells essentially involved in liver regeneration: hepatocytes and stem cells. It remains to be determined how TCs affect hepatocytes proliferation and/or hepatic stem cell differentiation in liver regeneration. Besides intercellular junctions, we may speculate a paracrine effect via ectovesicles.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Digestive Disease Institute, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yihua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bei
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Junjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Changqing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006498:Hepatectomy; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D013194:Staining and Labeling
keywords: CD34; CK-19 positive-hepatic stem cells; EdU; PCNA; PDGFR-α, ß; hepatocytes; liver regeneration; telocytes