BACKGROUND/AIMS: Intrahepatic biliary cell differentiation takes place in periportal hepatoblasts under the influence of the subjacent mesenchyme, which leads to the suppression of mature hepatocyte marker expression. This study was undertaken to analyze C/EBP alpha and beta expression, which may govern transcription of mature hepatocyte marker genes, during mouse liver development with special attention given to biliary differentiation. METHODS: Expression of C/EBP alpha and beta was immunohistochemically examined. Expression of alpha-fetoprotein, albumin and urea cycle enzymes, the genes of which have CCAAT motifs in their upstream regulatory sequences, was examined immunohistochemically or by using in situ hybridization. RESULTS: C/EBP alpha started to be expressed in endodermal cells of 9.5-day liver primordium, and continued to be expressed in hepatoblasts and hepatocytes throughout development. Although biliary cell progenitors transiently expressed mature hepatocyte markers, their expression of C/EBP alpha was weak or totally absent. The signals of C/EBP beta in hepatocytes were weak in fetal liver, but became stronger with postnatal development. Differentiated epithelial cells of intrahepatic biliary structures did not express C/EBP alpha. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the suppression of C/EBP alpha expression may be prerequisite to biliary cell differentiation in the hepatoblast population and one of its earliest signs.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Intrahepatic biliary cell differentiation takes place in periportal hepatoblasts under the influence of the subjacent mesenchyme, which leads to the suppression of mature hepatocyte marker expression. This study was undertaken to analyze C/EBP alpha and beta expression, which may govern transcription of mature hepatocyte marker genes, during mouse liver development with special attention given to biliary differentiation. METHODS: Expression of C/EBP alpha and beta was immunohistochemically examined. Expression of alpha-fetoprotein, albumin and urea cycle enzymes, the genes of which have CCAAT motifs in their upstream regulatory sequences, was examined immunohistochemically or by using in situ hybridization. RESULTS:C/EBP alpha started to be expressed in endodermal cells of 9.5-day liver primordium, and continued to be expressed in hepatoblasts and hepatocytes throughout development. Although biliary cell progenitors transiently expressed mature hepatocyte markers, their expression of C/EBP alpha was weak or totally absent. The signals of C/EBP beta in hepatocytes were weak in fetal liver, but became stronger with postnatal development. Differentiated epithelial cells of intrahepatic biliary structures did not express C/EBP alpha. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the suppression of C/EBP alpha expression may be prerequisite to biliary cell differentiation in the hepatoblast population and one of its earliest signs.
Authors: Anan Abu Rmilah; Wei Zhou; Erek Nelson; Li Lin; Bruce Amiot; Scott L Nyberg Journal: Wiley Interdiscip Rev Dev Biol Date: 2019-03-28 Impact factor: 5.814
Authors: Jeongeun Hyun; Zhaoli Sun; Ali Reza Ahmadi; Sushant Bangru; Ullas V Chembazhi; Kuo Du; Tianyi Chen; Hidekazu Tsukamoto; Ivan Rusyn; Auinash Kalsotra; Anna Mae Diehl Journal: J Clin Invest Date: 2020-04-01 Impact factor: 14.808
Authors: Jeongeun Hyun; Muthana Al Abo; Rajesh Kumar Dutta; Seh Hoon Oh; Kun Xiang; Xiyou Zhou; Raquel Maeso-Díaz; Rebecca Caffrey; Arun J Sanyal; Jennifer A Freedman; Steven R Patierno; Cynthia A Moylan; Manal F Abdelmalek; Anna Mae Diehl Journal: J Hepatol Date: 2021-05-06 Impact factor: 30.083