Adult HNF1beta+ cells give rise to oval cells but do not significantly contribute to normal homeostasis or injury repair of hepatocytes in mice

Abstract

In response to liver injury or loss of liver mass, hepatocytes and cholangiocytes proliferate to replace the injured tissue. However, in case of chronic liver and biliary disease, when hepatocyte and cholangiocyte proliferation is impaired, an expansion of small putative progenitors is observed (oval cell response). Oval cells reside in a niche close to the terminal bile ducts, called canals of Hering, and are believed to give rise to both, hepatocytes and bile ducts. Though controversially debated, these progenitors were recently reported to not only give rise to hepatocytes after liver injury but even provide a continuous supply of hepatocytes of the entire liver in normal homeostasis (“streaming hypothesis”).