Invading macrophages play a major role in the liver progenitor cell response to chronic liver injury

Abstract

Background & Aims: Although a strong association between liver progenitor cells (LPCs) and inflammation exists in many chronic liver diseases, the exact role of the immune system in LPC-mediated hepatic regeneration remains unclear. A number of pro-inflammatory factors were identified in cytokine knockout mice in which the LPC response was attenuated but neither the mechanism nor the producing cells are known. Methods: To identify the critical immune cells and cytokines required in the LPC response, we compared two diet-induced models of liver injury with two recently established transgenic models of immune-mediated hepatitis. Results: Despite severe inflammation being observed in all models..