On the release of small RNAs and viruses from hepatocytes

Abstract

The liver is the second largest organ in the body, only after the skin. The liver is a roughly triangular organ that extends across the entire abdominal cavity just inferior to the diaphragm. It consists of 4 distinct lobes – the left, right, caudate, and quadrate lobes. It is one of the organs that can regenerate. The liver plays an active role in the process of digestion through the production of bile, which helps carry away waste and break down fats in the small intestine during digestion. The other well-known functions of the liver are production of cholesterol, production of certain proteins for blood plasma, conversion of excess glucose into glycogen for storage. It also regulates blood clotting and blood levels of amino acids.