Figure 1.

Overview of cell-type-specific roles of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) during liver injury and disease. (a) After partial hepatectomy, EGFR is crucial in hepatocytes for liver regeneration; (b) During stress, liver injury models induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN), viruses or Fas, the EGFR plays a hepatoprotective role, but the underlying signaling mechanisms remain unclear; (c) After toxic liver injury, the EGFR is dispensable in hepatocytes but essential on activated hepatic stellate cells to induce fibrosis; (d) During hepatocarcinogenesis, EGFR is suggested to play an anti-tumorigenic role in hepatocytes, whereas EGFR in Kupffer cells/liver macrophages plays a pro-tumorigenic role.