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Semin Liver Dis 1999; 19(1): 7-14
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1007093
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1999 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Principles of Therapeutic Liver Repopulation

Markus Grompe1 , Ezio Laconi2 , David A. Shafritz3
  • 1Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon
  • 2Istituto di Pathologia Sperimentale, Universita di Cagliari and Ospedale Oncologico “A. Businco”, Cagliari, Italy
  • 3Departments of Medicine, Cell Biology, and Pathology and The Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
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Publication History

Publication Date:
17 March 2008 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Recently, it has been shown in several animal models that more than 90% of host hepatocytes can be replaced by a small number of transplanted donor cells in a process we term therapeutic liver repopulation. This phenomenon is analogous to repopulation of the hematopoietic system after bone marrow transplantation. Liver repopulation occurs when transplanted cells have a growth advantage in the setting of damage to recipient liver cells. Here we review the current knowledge of this process and discuss the hopeful implications for treatment of liver diseases.

KEY WORDS

hepatocyte transplantation - liver repopulation - gene therapy - liver stem cell

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