Open AccessThe Hippo Pathway in Liver Homeostasis and Pathophysiology
Author(s) -
Jordan H. Driskill,
Duojia Pan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
annual review of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 9.417
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1553-4014
pISSN - 1553-4006
DOI - 10.1146/annurev-pathol-030420-105050
Subject(s) - hippo signaling pathway , biology , liver regeneration , microbiology and biotechnology , regulator , regeneration (biology) , homeostasis , kinase , liver disease , signal transduction , genetics , biochemistry , gene
Studies of the regenerative capacity of the liver have converged on the Hippo pathway, a serine/threonine kinase cascade discovered in Drosophila and conserved from unicellular organisms to mammals. Genetic studies of mouse and rat livers have revealed that the Hippo pathway is a key regulator of liver size, regeneration, development, metabolism, and homeostasis and that perturbations in the Hippo pathway can lead to the development of common liver diseases, such as fatty liver disease and liver cancer. In turn, pharmacological targeting of the Hippo pathway may be utilized to boost regeneration and to prevent the development and progression of liver diseases. We review current insights provided by the Hippo pathway into liver pathophysiology. Furthermore, we present a path forward for future studies to understand how newly identified components of the Hippo pathway may control liver physiology and how the Hippo pathway is regulated in the liver.