Role of transforming growth factor β signaling and expansion of progenitor cells in regenerating liver
Arun Thenappan, Ying Li, Krit Kitisin, Asif Rashid, Kirti Shetty, Lynt Johnson, Lopa Mishra – 26 March 2010 – Adult hepatic progenitor cells are activated during regeneration when hepatocytes and bile duct epithelium are damaged or unable to proliferate. On the basis of its role as a tumor suppressor and in the potential malignant transformation of stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma, we investigated the role of key transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) signaling components, including the Smad3 adaptor protein β2‐Spectrin (β2SP), in liver regeneration.