Answer: May occur in response to growth factors
Explanation:
Hyperplasia is increased cell production in a normal tissue or organ. Hyperplasia may be a sign of abnormal or precancerous changes. This is called pathologic hyperplasia.
Pathologic hyperplasia can occur in response to hormones and growth factors (for example in endometrial hyperplasia, the hyperplasia caused by excessive hormonal stimulation or growth factors acting on target. Thus, patients with hyperplasia of the endometrium are at increased risk for developing endometrial cancer.)
Hyperplasia is also an important response of connective tissue cells in wound healing, in which proliferating fibroblasts and blood vessels aid in repair.
Under normal circumstances, growth factors are responsible for the hyperplasia. Stimulation by growth factors is also involved in the hyperplasia that is associated with certain viral infections, such as papillomaviruses, which cause skin warts and several mucosal lesions composed of masses of hyperplastic epithelium.
Other important concepts to note:
Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of mature cells. Compensatory hyperplasia enables organ regeneration and is a normal process: hyperplasia is not normal. Pathologic hyperplasia increases cell number. Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells and consequently in the size of the affected organ.
