Preface

*To my family* 

This book focuses on the current knowledge regarding the physiologic processes that are triggered after hepatic injury and ultimately lead to liver regeneration. Some of these mechanisms are common to other tissues/organs, but the quickness, precision and effectiveness of liver regeneration in completely restoring its initial physiological function after injury is quite remarkable and unique among all the solid organs. Thus, the knowledge of these specific molecular and cellular mechanisms is crucial for the improvement of the current therapies and ultimately, complete recovery from liver disease.

Hence, the first section of the book comprises multiple chapters that detail the mechanisms of molecular and cellular liver regeneration. Then, the second section describes different animal models used in this field of research, highlighting their significance and contribution to the study of liver regeneration. Finally, the last section presents a chapter on the gold standard for end-stage liver disease, liver transplantation, followed by numerous approaches and strategies for liver regeneration that rely on different cell therapies. The last chapter of this book describes some of the new approaches being developed that rely on tissue and organ bioengineering.

It is then my hope as the book editor that this book will be able to help as many professionals and curious minds as possible, working in or out of the liver field, and that it can shed some light in the intricate mechanisms of organ regeneration.

> **Pedro M. Baptista, Pharm.D., Ph.D**. Researcher, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, USA

**Section 1** 

**Cellular and Molecular** 

**Mechanisms of Regeneration** 
