Growth factors and cytokines involved in liver regeneration.

Abstract

The regenerative ability of the liver is essential for maintaining physiological functions and the injury repair process. The biological mechanisms that regulate liver regeneration remain poorly defined. These mechanisms are notable issues in clinical practice that affect the treatment of hepatic loss caused by hepatectomy, hepatic poisoning, or chronic viral infection. Increasing evidence shows that numerous growth factors, cytokines, and metabolic pathways influence the liver regenerative process. Of particular importance are cytokines and growth factors, which affect different stages of liver regeneration. In this review, we summarize the results obtained from studies that focused on the role of growth factors and cytokines in liver regeneration to reflect on the clinical implications and areas for further study.