Fig. 1: An overview of the DR in the liver.
From: Microenvironmental control of the ductular reaction: balancing repair and disease progression
In response to liver injury, HPC in the canal of Hering or quiescent cholangiocytes in the portal space undergo activation, leading to the formation of reactive ductules that proliferate and eventually infiltrate the parenchyma. HPC can also derive from the liver parenchyma as a consequence of hepatocyte metaplasia characterized by acquisition of a biliary phenotype, while mature cholangiocyte can derive from peri-portal hepatocyte trans-differentiation. DR structures can take various forms, including multiple small ducts, multilayered ductular structures, or HPC cords infiltrating the hepatic parenchyma. HPC can differentiate back to cholangiocytes and hepatocytes in order to regenerate the tissue. HA hepatic artery, PV portal vein, BD bile duct.
