Liver Regeneration in Acute on Chronic Liver Failure

Abstract

Liver regeneration is a multifaceted process by which the organ regains its original size and histologic organization. In recent decades, substantial advances have been made in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying regeneration following loss of hepatic mass. Liver regeneration in acute liver failure possesses several classic pathways, while also exhibiting unique differences in key processes such as the roles of differentiated cells and stem cell analogs. Here we summarize these unique differences and new molecular mechanisms involving the gut-liver axis, immunomodulation, and microRNAs with an emphasis on applications to the patient population through stem cell therapies and prognostication.

Keywords: Acute liver failure; Acute on chronic liver failure; Cytokines; Growth factors; Homeostasis; Partial hepatectomy; Regeneration; microRNAs.