Telocytes in liver regeneration: possible roles.
Telocytes (TCs) are a novel type of interstitial cells which are potentially involved in tissue regeneration and repair (www.telocytes.com). Previously, we documented the presence of TCs in liver. However, the possible roles of TCs in liver regeneration remain unknown. In this study, a murine model of partial hepatectomy (PH) was used to induce liver regeneration. The number of TCs detected by double labelling immunofluorescence methods (CD34/PDGFR-α, CD34/PDGFR-ß and CD34/Vimentin) was significantly increased when a high level of hepatic cell proliferation rate (almost doubled) as shown by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) immunostaining and Western Blot of Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was found at 48 and 72 hrs post-PH. Meanwhile, the number of CK-19 positive-hepatic stem cells peaked at 72 hrs post-PH, co-ordinating with the same time-point, when the number of TCs was most significantly increased. Taken together, the results indicate a close relationship between TCs and the cells essentially involved in liver regeneration: hepatocytes and stem cells. It remains to be determined how TCs affect hepatocytes proliferation and/or hepatic stem cell differentiation in liver regeneration. Besides intercellular junctions, we may speculate a paracrine effect via ectovesicles.
['Wang|Fei|F|', 'Song|Yang|Y|', 'Bei|Yihua|Y|', 'Zhao|Yingying|Y|', 'Xiao|Junjie|J|', 'Yang|Changqing|C|']
D000818:Animals D049109:Cell Proliferation D006498:Hepatectomy D008099:Liver D008115:Liver Regeneration D008297:Male D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence D013194:Staining and Labeling
telocytes liver regeneration CD34 EdU PCNA CK-19 positive-hepatic stem cells hepatocytes PDGFR-α, ß