Review Article
Revisiting Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Liver Fibrosis: Clues for a Better Understanding of the “Reactive” Biliary Epithelial Phenotype
Figure 2
Epithelial-mesenchymal cell interactions promote ductular reaction. Crosstalk mechanisms with portal myofibroblasts and macrophages mediated by Hedgehog (Hh) and TGF-β1, respectively, are critical in generating ductular reactive cells (DRC) from activation of the hepatic progenitor cell (HPC) compartment, residing in the niche nearby the canals of Hering. Hh and TGF-β1 stimulate DRC to gain a range of mesenchymal changes typical of a “reactive” phenotype.