Extracellular Matrix Regulates Hepatocyte Gene Expression and Differentiation

概要

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Primary hepatocyte cultures have been used for studying in vitro mechanisms by which liver growth and differentiation are regulated. Differentiation of hepatocytes is regulated in vitro by extracellular matrix as a substratum. Several cDNA clones encoding liver-enriched transcription factors have been isolated and shown to play important roles in maintaining liver differentiation. Hepatocytes rapidly lose their phenotypic expression after disaggregation. However, spherical hepatocytes cultured on Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm sarcoma gel maintain higher liver-specific gene expression and some liver-enriched transcription factors such as hepatocyte nuclear factor(HNF)4, CCAAT / enhancer binding protein(C / EBP)α and C / EBPβ than monolayer hepatocytes cultured on type I collagen. HNF-4 is found to be a good marker for hepatocyte differentiation and is one of the most important liver-enriched transcription factors of liver differentiation at least in primary hepatocytes. Cell environments, cell shape and cell polarity, modulated by extracellular matrix control hepatocyte differnetiation as well as HNF-4 gene expression.
日本結合組織学会の論文
1998-09-25