A child ingested a household solvent and his liver cells regenerate through recruitment from G0. What is the key mechanism?

In the context of liver regeneration following injury, such as from the ingestion of a household solvent, the liver cells, or hepatocytes, can regenerate through a process that involves recruitment from a quiescent state (G0 phase) into active cell cycle phases. Normally, hepatocytes residing in the G0 phase of the cell cycle are not actively dividing but can be stimulated to enter the cell cycle in response to liver injury. This recruitment is a crucial aspect of the liver's remarkable regenerative capacity.

When the liver experiences damage or loss of cells, like that occurred in this child, signals such as growth factors and cytokines are released, prompting those quiescent hepatocytes to exit the G0 phase, re-enter the cell cycle, and begin proliferating to restore the hepatic mass and function. This process allows the liver to effectively repair itself following toxic injury.

While stem cells may contribute to regenerative processes in some organs, in the case of the liver, the predominant mechanism involves the existing mature hepatocytes transitioning from a quiescent to a proliferative state. Decreased apoptosis might play a role in maintaining cell numbers during regeneration but does not directly encourage the activation and growth of new cells. Longer cell cycle time is not as relevant because regeneration is often