Cover13; -- Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science: Development, Differentiation and Disease of the Para-Alimentary Tract -- Copyright -- Contents -- Contributors -- Preface -- Chapter 1: Transcriptional Control of Acinar Development and Homeostasis -- I. Introduction -- II. Formation of the Multipotent Progenitor Cell (MPC) Population -- III. Transcriptional Induction of Acinar Cell-Fate and the Onset of Differentiation -- IV. Acinar Cell Differentiation -- V. Transcriptional Control of the Maintenance, Self-Renewal and Plasticity of Acinar Cells -- Acknowledgement -- References -- Chapter 2: Molecular Biology of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Progression -- I. Introduction -- II. Anatomy of the Exocrine Pancreas -- III. Development of the Exocrine Pancreas -- IV. Genetic Alterations in PDAC -- V. Activation of Developmental Pathways Driving Cancer Progression -- VI. Concluding Remarks -- References -- Chapter 3: Transcriptional Control of Hepatocyte Differentiation -- I. Overview of Liver Development -- II. Transcription Factors Controlling Hepatic Competence of the Definitive Endoderm -- III. Specification of Competent Endoderm Cells into Hepatoblasts and Expansion of the Liver Bud -- IV. Differentiation of Hepatoblasts into Hepatocytes -- V. Transcriptional Networks Define Maturation of Hepatocytes -- VI. Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 4: Molecular Mechanisms of Biliary Development -- I. Introduction -- II. Morphogenesis of the Intrahepatic Bile Ducts -- III. Signaling Mechanisms Controlling Cholangiocyte Differentiation and Biliary Tubulogenesis -- IV. Transcriptional Regulation of Biliary Differentiation -- V. Transcriptional Regulation of Biliary Tubulogenesis -- VI. Regulation of Biliary Development by MicroRNAs -- VII. Development of the Extrahepatic Biliary Tree -- VIII. Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 5: Molecular Determinants of Liver Zonation -- I. Introduction -- II. The Concept of Liver Zonation -- III. The Wnt/beta-Catenin ''Zonation-Keeper180;180; Pathway -- IV. The Control of a Zone-Specific Transcription by beta-Catenin -- V. Future Prospects and Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 6: Fibrosis in the Liver -- I. Clinical Impact -- II. Patterns of Fibrosis Progression -- III. Fibrogenic Stimuli -- IV. Extracellular Matrix -- V. Cellular Sources of ECM -- VI. Fibrosis-Related Receptors and Signaling Pathways -- VII. Disease-Specific Mechanisms of Hepatic Fibrogenesis -- VIII. Genetic Determinants of Hepatic Fibrosis -- IX. Reversibility of Hepatic Fibrosis and Cirrhosis -- References -- Chapter 7: Hierarchies of Transcriptional Regulation During Liver Regeneration -- I. Introduction: Models and Applications of Liver Regeneration -- II. Preexisting Transcription Factors Dominate During the Early Response to Partial Hepatectomy -- III. Nuclear Receptors and De Novo Synthesized Transcription Factors Control Cell Proliferation During Liver Regeneration -- IV. Termination of Liver Regeneration and Liver Size Adjustment -- V. Conclusions: Recent Progress and Significance of Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Liver Regeneration -- References -- Chapter 8: Biology of the Adult Hepatic Progenitor Cell -- I. Introduction: The Oval Cell -- II. Canals of Hering: The Putative Oval Cell Niche -- III. Oval Cell-Mediated Liver Regeneration -- IV. Molecular Regulation of the Oval Cell Res.