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Stem cells versus plasticity in liver and pancreas regeneration

Nature Cell Biology volume 18, pages 238–245 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Cell replacement in adult organs can be achieved through stem cell differentiation or the replication or transdifferentiation of existing cells. In the adult liver and pancreas, stem cells have been proposed to replace tissue cells, particularly following injury. Here we review how specialized cell types are produced in the adult liver and pancreas. Based on current evidence, we propose that the plasticity of differentiated cells, rather than stem cells, accounts for tissue repair in both organs.

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Figure 1: Assays for assessing stem cell properties.
Figure 2: Plasticity and cell interconversion in the liver.
Figure 3: Plasticity and cell interconversion in the pancreas.

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Acknowledgements

We thank A. C. Carrano (Univ. California, USA) for help with writing the manuscript and constructive comments. We apologize to our colleagues whose references were omitted owing to space constraints. J.L.K. is supported by grants from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), National Pancreatic Cancer Canada Foundation, Pancreas Centre British Columbia, Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the National Institutes of Health. M.G. is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (DK05192 and DK104143) and the Helmsley Charitable Trust. M.S. is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (DK078803 and DK068471), the JDRF, the Helmsley Charitable Trust and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, British Columbia, Canada

    Janel L. Kopp

  2. Oregon Stem Cell Center, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, 97239, Oregon, USA

    Markus Grompe

  3. Department of Pediatrics and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093-0695, California, USA

    Maike Sander

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  1. Janel L. Kopp
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Correspondence to Maike Sander.

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Kopp, J., Grompe, M. & Sander, M. Stem cells versus plasticity in liver and pancreas regeneration. Nat Cell Biol 18, 238–245 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb3309

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