During liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy, normally quiescent hepatocytes undergo
one or two rounds of replication to restore the liver mass by a process of compensatory
hyperplasia. A large number of genes are involved in liver regeneration, but the essential
circuitry required for the process may be categorized into three networks: cytokine, growth
factor and metabolic. There is much redundancy within each network, and intricate
interactions exist between them. Thus, loss of function from a single gene rarely leads to …

The unusual regenerative properties of the liver are a logical adaptation by organisms, as
the liver is the main detoxifying organ of the body and is likely to be injured by ingested
toxins. The numerous cytokine-and growth-factor-mediated pathways that are involved in
regulating liver regeneration are being successfully dissected using molecular and genetic
approaches. So what is known about this process at present and which questions remain?

Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy is a very complex and well‐orchestrated
phenomenon. It is carried out by the participation of all mature liver cell types. The process is
associated with signaling cascades involving growth factors, cytokines, matrix remodeling,
and several feedbacks of stimulation and inhibition of growth related signals. Liver manages
to restore any lost mass and adjust its size to that of the organism, while at the same time
providing full support for body homeostasis during the entire regenerative process. In …

The liver can precisely regulate its growth and mass. Surgical resection of hepatic lobes or
hepatocyte loss caused by viral or chemical injury triggers hepatocyte replication while
enlarged liver mass is corrected by apoptosis. Hepatocytes have a great replicative capacity
and are capable of repopulating the liver. However,“stem-like” cells proliferate when
hepatocyte replication is blocked or delayed. Detailed studies of the mechanisms that
regulate liver growth have been done in animals subjected to partial hepatectomy or …