Figure 2.

Hh signaling in required for liver regeneration post-PH. (A) In adult healthy liver, hepatocytes barely expressed Hh ligand. Bile ductular cells and hepatic stellate cells express Hh ligands, and have endogenous Hh pathway activity. (B) a) Hh pathway is activated in hepatocytes and bile ductular cells post-PH. b) Hh pathway is activated in hepatic stellate cells post-PH. Hh signaling promotes transition of quiescent hepatic stellate cells to myofibroblast. Some of myofibroblasts become progenitors that regenerate the liver epithelial compartment after PH. c) Hh signaling promotes progenitor cell accumulation post-PH.