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Molecular Biology of the Liver

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Hepatobiliary Diseases

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Abstract

Because of its physiologic importance, the predominance of a single cell type, its size, and its relative accessibility, the liver has become a focal point for studies of gene regulation. These studies have not only enhanced our knowledge about mechanisms of gene expression in general but also provided major insights on questions regarding normal and abnormal liver development, function, and growth. Major areas of research that heavily rely on molecular biology techniques include the analysis of transcriptional factors in developing and adult liver, studies on proto-oncogenes, growth factors and other growth-associated genes, the investigation of coordinated gene expression in the acute phase response, the expression of extracellular matrix genes in liver fibrosis, and the analysis of the structure and regulation of individual genes that may regulate hepatic function or structure. A more recent area of research, which should eventually lead to clinical applications, involves the replacement or inactivation of hepatic genes in vivo. This line of work became possible due to the successful development of methods to transfer genes into cultured liver cells.

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Authors
  1. N. Fausto
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Liver Unit, Clinica Universitaria and School of Medicine University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

    Jesús Prieto M.D. (Professor of Medicine) (Professor of Medicine)

  2. Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic i Provincial, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Joan Rodés M.D. (Professor of Medicine) (Professor of Medicine)

  3. Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA

    David A. Shafritz M.D. (Professor of Medicine and Cell Biology and Director Marion Bessin) (Professor of Medicine and Cell Biology and Director Marion Bessin)

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© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Fausto, N. (1992). Molecular Biology of the Liver. In: Prieto, J., Rodés, J., Shafritz, D.A. (eds) Hepatobiliary Diseases. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76802-6_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76802-6_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-76804-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-76802-6

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