/ ^2 ?6 l1 j# m0 |' f3 r( X1 {4 NSeveral aspects of liver stem cells biology , D6 Q* V" b$ o/ v2 k: z/ jXIANG Dao, HU Yi-ping* 5 R( X; n) j3 `! R$ K) z(Department of Cell Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China) 7 L) A2 _" A3 Z, `% H; j; V 1 a; f$ I* e" e! ^- `+ [3 ~3 ?/ t $ V2 D! {2 \4 h4 _
Abstract: It is more than five decades since the oval cell has been found. During this period, marvelous bio-medical potential of the liver stem cells (LSCs) was implied and proved by many researches. The concept of LSCs has been accepted, and the investigation on LSCs has turned to be the hotspot in recent years. Most concentration in this territory is on the place where LSCs exist, the interaction between LSCs and the microenvironment, molecule markers of LSCs and its differentiation. The researches on LSCs have brought new hope for treatments for liver diseases and other disorders. However, because of the problems remained in the researches, more and further investigation on LSCs is needed in order to put LSCs from laboratory study to clinical therapy. ( ^, J$ t5 d. SKey words: stem cell; liver stem cells; stemness maintenance; cell differentiation; cell therapy