Can a fibrotic liver afford epithelial-mesenchymal transition?
The question whether epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurs during liver fibrogenesis is a controversial issue. In vitro studies confirm that hepatocytes or cholangiocytes undergo EMT upon transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) stimulation, whereas in vivo experiments based on genetic fate map...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
July 14, 2017
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| In: |
World journal of gastroenterology
Year: 2017, Volume: 23, Issue: 26, Pages: 4661-4668 |
| ISSN: | 2219-2840 |
| DOI: | 10.3748/wjg.v23.i26.4661 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: http://dx.doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v23.i26.4661 Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v23/i26/4661.htm 
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| Author Notes: | Stefan Munker, Yong-Le Wu, Hui-Guo Ding, Roman Liebe, Hong-Lei Weng |
| Summary: | The question whether epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurs during liver fibrogenesis is a controversial issue. In vitro studies confirm that hepatocytes or cholangiocytes undergo EMT upon transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) stimulation, whereas in vivo experiments based on genetic fate mapping of specific cell populations suggest that EMT does not occur in fibrotic animal models. In this review we present current data supporting or opposing EMT in chronic liver disease and discuss conditions for the occurrence of EMT in patients. Based on the available data and our clinical observations we hypothesize that EMT-like alterations in liver cirrhosis are a side effect of high levels of TGF-β and other pro-fibrotic mediators rather than a biological process converting functional parenchyma, i.e., hepatocytes, into myofibroblasts at a time when essential liver functions are deteriorating. |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 05.06.2018 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 2219-2840 |
| DOI: | 10.3748/wjg.v23.i26.4661 |