MAPK/ERK and Wnt/β-Catenin pathways are synergistically involved in proliferation of Sca-1 positive hepatic progenitor cells

► Activation of MAPK/ERK pathway with epidermal growth factor (EGF) significantly increased Sca-1+ HPC proliferation and colony formation. ► Activation of either IL-6/STAT3 or Wnt/β-Catenin pathway did not independently support cell proliferation and colony formation of HPCs. ► Wnt/β-Catenin pathway can cooperate with EGF to significantly promote HPC colony formation and maintain long-term HPCs in vitro.