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Compensatory proliferation is a mechanism which allows replacing abnormal cells by healthy cells. These abnormal cells generally die through apoptosis and somehow emit a signal that will provoke the proliferation of neighbouring cells. This phenomenon was observed with cells affected in their programme of differentiation or with irradiated cells. Compensatory proliferation was also observed in mammals, where it is particularly studied for its role in the appearance of hepatocarcinomas or in maintaining tissue homeostasis in the intestinal epithelium.