p18(INK4c) belongs to the family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitory proteins that target the cyclin-dependent kinases and inhibit their catalytic activity. The role of p18(INK4c) for cell cycle progression in vivo is characterized poorly. Therefore, we studied the expression and physiologic relevance of p18 in quiescent and proliferating hepatocytes during liver regeneration. For our analysis we used single-(p18[INK4c], p27[KIP1], p21[CIP1/WAF1]), and double-mutant (p18/p21, p18/p27) mice. p18 expression was found in quiescent hepatocytes and a slight up-regulation was evident after partial hepatectomy (PH). p18 knockout animals showed normal cell cycle progression after PH. However, when p18/p21 and p18/ p27 double-mutant mice were used, differences in cell cycle progression were evident compared with wild-type (wt) and single knockout animals. In p18/p21 knockout animals, the G1 phase was shortened as evidenced by an earlier onset of cyclin D and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activation after PH. In contrast, in p18/p27 knockout animals, the G1 phase was unchanged, but the amount of proliferating hepatocytes (5-bromo-2 -deoxyuridine [BrdU] and PCNA positive) 48 hours after PH was elevated. In conclusion, our results suggest that p18 is involved in cell cycle progression after PH. Additionally we provide evidence that timing and strength of DNA synthesis in hepatocytes after PH is regulated tightly through the collaboration of different cell cycle inhibitors. (HEPATOLOGY 2003;37:833-841.) T he most established experimental model for studying liver growth control in vivo is 70% partial hepatectomy (PH) in rodents, in which most of the remaining hepatocytes synchronously enter the cell cycle and liver mass is restored within 1 to 2 weeks. 1 The extracellular signals that trigger regeneration after PH recently have been studied extensively, 2-4 but less is known about the intracellular processes that regulate cell cycle control of hepatocytes under the influence of different extracellular conditions in vitro and especially in vivo.Progression through the different phases of the cell cycle is driven by protein complexes composed of a regulatory subunit, the cyclin, and a catalytic subunit, the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK). In mammalian cells, CDK4 and CDK6 in combination with 3 D-type cyclins (D1, D2, and D3), and CDK2 in association with cyclin E, play key roles in regulating G1 phase progression. 5,6 Extracellular growth signals promote transcription of the cyclin D1 gene and assembly of cyclin D1-CDK4 complexes. 5-9 Active CDK4 and CDK2 complexes target and phosphorylate the retinoblastoma protein (Rb), leading to the activation of E2F proteins. [10][11][12] In addition to binding to cyclins, full activation of the CDKs requires phosphorylation by the CDK-activating kinase. 13 Another group of proteins have been identified that integrate growth inhibitory signals and inhibit CDK activation. The so-called CDK inhibitors (CDKIs) are classified into 2 ...