Bipotential hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) are recognized as making modest contributions to hepatocyte regeneration, though never credited with major liver repopulation. A new study in mice demonstrates HPCs can make a massive contribution to hepatocyte replacement, suggesting HPCs have the potential to be an effective cell therapy for liver failure.
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Alison, M., Lin, WR. Hepatic progenitor cells up their game in the therapeutic stakes. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 12, 610–611 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2015.168
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2015.168