HEPATIC CELL-DIVISION AND TISSUE-REPAIR - A KEY TO SURVIVAL AFTER LIVER-INJURY

The survival of patients suffering from severe liver damage depends he avily on the ability of the remaining hepatocytes to regenerate and re place the dead or dying cells; death usually occurs when the regenerat ing ability of the liver is compromised owing to heavy damage to the l iver. The current approach to therapy aims only to block additional li ver injury from hepatotoxicants or hepatic disease. If hepatocellular regeneration and tissue repair could be stimulated after hepatic damag e by a therapeutically compatible mechanism, then it might be possible to prevent death arising from serious liver injury.