Liver regeneration

Abstract The liver is the only mammalian organ capable of complete recovery following major tissue loss. Intense research has revealed the profound complexity behind liver regeneration, rightly considered to be one of the most intriguing processes within the human body. This chapter provides a concise overview of key findings, interpreted to highlight the general principles that underlie the restoration of liver mass. Following a descriptive view of the regenerative process, mechanistic insights are given on priming, progression, vascular reconstitution, and termination—the major phases of liver regeneration. Given the central tasks of the liver, metabolic disturbances arising following tissue loss are emerging as crucial regulators of regeneration and are likewise discussed. The chapter closes with three pressing medical issues (post-hepatectomy liver failure, steatosis, and fibrosis) that compromise successful recovery, describing potential causes associated with the underlying pathobiology.