Investigation of the role of hepatic stellate cell alpha-v integrins during liver regeneration using a novel conditional genetic system

Liver disease represents a massive healthcare burden worldwide. The liver has a unique ability to regenerate and integrins are molecules that allow cells to communicate with each other and also with areas of scarring within the liver. I will help to investigate whether a specific integrin (alpha-v) has an important role in suppressing liver regeneration in liver disease using an established novel genetic strategy in mice to manipulate levels of alpha-v integrins in specific cells within the liver during the regenerative process. Increasing our understanding of this process will facilitate the design of highly specific therapies to promote liver regeneration in patients.