{
  "abstract": "Cholangiocytes are highly specialised cells participating in the pathobiology of various liver diseases and recognised to play a crucial role in response to liver injury. Cholangiocytes exhibit dramatic heterogeneity and plasticity, with distinct subtypes performing disparate functions during liver injury and regeneration. Acting as the liver progenitor cells, cholangiocytes can also convert to hepatocytes in the context of impaired hepatocyte proliferation. Harnessing the intrinsic regenerative ability of cholangiocytes is of great importance to alleviate liver injury and promote cholangiocyte-driven liver regeneration. Clinically, cholangiocytes and cholangiocyte organoids are expected to serve as favourable sources for cell therapy in cholangiopathies, which are known as a group of complex diseases involving the biliary system while lacking effective therapeutic options. A comprehensive understanding of the biological characteristics of cholangiocytes provides insights into developing cholangiocyte cell therapy for cholangiopathies. In this review, we discuss the critical role of cholangiocytes in liver injury and regeneration, reveal the underlying mechanism of cholangiocyte plasticity, and explore the prospects and challenges of using cholangiocytes as a source for cell therapy.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China",
        "Department of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China"
      ],
      "name": "Chengtao Lou"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China"
      ],
      "name": "Tianchen Lan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China"
      ],
      "name": "Shengjun Xu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China"
      ],
      "name": "Xinhao Hu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China"
      ],
      "name": "Jiarui Li"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China"
      ],
      "name": "Ze Xiang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China"
      ],
      "name": "Shengda Lin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China"
      ],
      "name": "Xiaohui Fan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China"
      ],
      "name": "Jian Chen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China",
        "School of Clinical Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China",
        "Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China"
      ],
      "name": "Xiao Xu"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Heterogeneity and plasticity of cholangiocytes in liver injury: a journey from pathophysiology to therapeutic utility",
  "uid": "16290908-c874-5289-8294-70c2609cc971"
}