AIM: Cadherins, Ca(2+)-dependent cell adhesion molecules, are known to play essential roles in morphogenesis and organogenesis. However, the role of cadherins in liver organogenesis remains poorly understood. The aim of this study is to clarify the expression patterns and levels of these cadherins in the developing and maturing mouse liver. METHODS: The expression of E- and N-cadherin was investigated immunohistochemically and levels were determined by immunoblots. RESULTS: In the hepatic primordia E-cadherin, but not N- cadherin, was weakly expressed. As development proceeded, N-cadherin became coexpressed with E-cadherin in a single hepatocyte. The expression was uniform throughout the liver and the amount of these cadherins gradually increased. In the first postnatal week during the initial formation of the architecture of the liver lobule, the distribution of these cadherins gradually changed to the complementary pattern of the adult type, i.e. E-cadherin was expressed in the periportal zones, while N-cadherin was expressed in the perivenous zones. CONCLUSION: The complementary expression patterns of E- and N-cadherin between the periportal and perivenous zones developed gradually after birth. This specific regional localization of each cadherin may serve as an aid in defining different functional regions in the mouse liver lobule.
AIM: Cadherins, Ca(2+)-dependent cell adhesion molecules, are known to play essential roles in morphogenesis and organogenesis. However, the role of cadherins in liver organogenesis remains poorly understood. The aim of this study is to clarify the expression patterns and levels of these cadherins in the developing and maturing mouse liver. METHODS: The expression of E- and N-cadherin was investigated immunohistochemically and levels were determined by immunoblots. RESULTS: In the hepatic primordia E-cadherin, but not N- cadherin, was weakly expressed. As development proceeded, N-cadherin became coexpressed with E-cadherin in a single hepatocyte. The expression was uniform throughout the liver and the amount of these cadherins gradually increased. In the first postnatal week during the initial formation of the architecture of the liver lobule, the distribution of these cadherins gradually changed to the complementary pattern of the adult type, i.e. E-cadherin was expressed in the periportal zones, while N-cadherin was expressed in the perivenous zones. CONCLUSION: The complementary expression patterns of E- and N-cadherin between the periportal and perivenous zones developed gradually after birth. This specific regional localization of each cadherin may serve as an aid in defining different functional regions in the mouse liver lobule.
Authors: P Katsamba; K Carroll; G Ahlsen; F Bahna; J Vendome; S Posy; M Rajebhosale; S Price; T M Jessell; A Ben-Shaul; L Shapiro; Barry H Honig Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2009-06-24 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Beate K Straub; Steffen Rickelt; Ralf Zimbelmann; Christine Grund; Caecilia Kuhn; Marcus Iken; Michael Ott; Peter Schirmacher; Werner W Franke Journal: J Cell Biol Date: 2011-11-21 Impact factor: 10.539
Authors: Dongxin Zhao; Song Chen; Jun Cai; Yushan Guo; Zhihua Song; Jie Che; Chun Liu; Chen Wu; Mingxiao Ding; Hongkui Deng Journal: PLoS One Date: 2009-07-31 Impact factor: 3.240