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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 14, 2014; 20(26): 8491-8504
Published online Jul 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i26.8491
Published online Jul 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i26.8491
Liver zonation: Novel aspects of its regulation and its impact on homeostasis
Rolf Gebhardt, Madlen Matz-Soja, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Author contributions: Gebhardt R and Matz-Soja M conceived, designed, wrote and approved the paper.
Supported by Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie (BMBF) in the framework of the Systems Biology initiative “Virtual Liver Network”, No. 0315735
Correspondence to: Rolf Gebhardt, PhD, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Johannissallee 30, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. rgebhardt@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Telephone: +49-341-9722100 Fax: +49-341-9722109
Received: October 28, 2013
Revised: February 20, 2014
Accepted: April 5, 2014
Published online: July 14, 2014
Processing time: 258 Days and 19.1 Hours
Revised: February 20, 2014
Accepted: April 5, 2014
Published online: July 14, 2014
Processing time: 258 Days and 19.1 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Liver metabolism comprises an immense spectrum of interrelated anabolic and catabolic functions which are performed simultaneously without wasting energy. To cope with this challenge, liver parenchyma shows a considerable heterogeneity and functional plasticity known as metabolic zonation. This review summarizes fascinating technical achievements in this field, covers recent progress in characterizing and visualizing zonation, and outlines an emerging network of master regulators that ensures proper maintenance of homeostasis and energetic optimization of liver function. Finally, an outlook is given on how disturbance of liver zonation and its regulation may impact on liver pathology and the development of metabolic diseases.