Hepatocyte-to-cholangiocyte conversion occurs through transdifferentiation independently of proliferation in zebrafish.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Injury to biliary epithelial cells (BECs) lining the hepatic bile ducts leads to cholestatic liver diseases. Upon severe biliary damage, hepatocytes can convert to BECs, thereby contributing to liver recovery. Given a potential of augmenting this hepatocyte-to-BEC conversion as a therapeutic option for cholestatic liver diseases, it will be important to thoroughly understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the conversion process.

Approach and results

Towards this aim, we have established a zebrafish model for hepatocyte-to-BEC conversion by employing Tg(fabp10a:CFP-NTR) zebrafish with a temporal inhibition of Notch signaling during regeneration. Cre/loxP-mediated permanent and H2B-mCherry-mediated short-term lineage tracing revealed that in the m

SUBMITTER: Lee SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10023500 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature