Wnt ligands 3a and 5a regulate proliferation and migration in human fetal liver progenitor cells

Liver disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide (1). Liver diseases are recognized as the second leading cause of mortality amongst all digestive diseases in the US (2). Global prevalence of cirrhosis from autopsy studies ranges from 4.5% to 9.5% of the general population (3). Hence, it is estimated that more than fifty million people in the world, taking the adult population, would be affected with chronic liver disease. While allogeneic liver transplantation is the only definitive treatment for the growing number of patients with end-stage liver disease, few patients on the organ waiting list undergo transplantation, given the limited availability of donor organs. As a result, there is a need to Original Article