Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) marks hepatocytes newly derived from stem/progenitor cells in humans. Yoon SM, Gerasimidou D, Kuwahara R, Hytiroglou P, Yoo JE, Park YN, Theise ND. Hepatology. 2011 Mar;53(3):964-73. (CUMC Full Text PDF)
The expression of EpCAM as a marker of hepatic stem/progenitor cells is studied in the setting of hepatitis B and C in various stages. EpCAM expression in hepatocytes is reported to become more prominent in later stages of chronic hepatitis, accompanied by development of ductular reaction (CK19+, w/ high proliferation) and, on a molecular level, presence of telomeres of longer length. The data support the concept that EpCAM+ hepatocytes represent a population of newly-formed hepatocytes from hepatobiliary stem/progenitor cells.
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