Abstract

Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Derived Microparticles in Liver Regeneration

Moritz Schmelzle, Investigator, TRM Leipzig

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are recruited from the bone marrow in response to surgical and pharmacological liver injury. HSC modulate vascular inflammation in a CD39-dependent manner and boost liver regeneration in both mice and humans. Pharmacological mobilization as well as therapeutical administration may both represent promising therapeutical alternatives and need further investigation. The rapid shedding of stem and immune-cell derived plasma microparticles defines liver diseases and may represent an alternative way of intercellular communication with primary liver cells. These submicron vesicles exhibit paracrine functions according to their surface profiles and transfer genetic information by fusion. These observations have implications for monitoring and may indicate future therapeutic avenues in liver disease. Further research is needed to determine whether these microparticle fluxes are secondary to pathophysiological insults to the liver or might reflect compensatory responses.