Cell Proliferation

Cell proliferation - the increase in cell numbers resulting from cell division - is a complex, tightly controlled, well-defined process. The mechanisms of normal cell proliferation, as well as the pathologic consequences occurring when the system malfunctions, are critical to many areas of medicine, from embryogenesis, to tissue repair, to oncogenesis. This article describes the normal process of cell division, including the cells involved, the normal series of steps that take places, and the growth factors and cytokines that mediate the process. Particular emphasis is placed on the crucial role cell proliferation plays in tissue repair following toxic injury.