Open AccessRole of sex hormones in the modulation of cholangiocyte function
Author(s) -
Romina Mancinelli,
Paolo Onori,
Sharon DeMorrow,
Heather Francis,
Shan Glaser,
Antonio Franchitto,
Guido Carpino,
Gianfranco Alpini,
Eugenio Gaudio
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
world journal of gastrointestinal pathophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2150-5330
DOI - 10.4291/wjgp.v1.i2.50
Subject(s) - cholangiocyte , medicine , hormone , angiogenesis , liver regeneration , inflammation , regeneration (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Over the last years, cholangiocytes, the cells that line the biliary tree, have been considered an important object of study for their biological properties which involves bile formation, proliferation, injury repair, fibrosis and angiogenesis. Cholangiocyte proliferation occurs in all pathologic conditions of liver injury where it is associated with inflammation and regeneration. During these processes, biliary cells start to secrete different cytokines, growth factors, neuropeptides and hormones which represent potential mechanisms for cross talk with other liver cells. Several studies suggest that hormones, and in particular, sex hormones, play a fundamental role in the modulation of the growth of this compartment in the injured liver which functionally conditions the progression of liver disease. Understanding the mechanisms of action and the intracellular pathways of these compounds on cholangiocyte pathophysiology will provide new potential strategies for the management of chronic liver diseases. The purpose of this review is to summarize the recent findings on the role of sex hormones in cholangiocyte proliferation and biology.