Altered Notch ligand expression in human liver disease: further evidence for a role of the Notch signaling pathway in hepatic neovascularization and biliary ductular defects.

ABSTRACT: The Jagged and Delta family of transmembrane proteins are ligands for Notch receptors, which control the proliferation and/or differentiation of many cell lineages. Expression and localization of these ligands in the adult human liver has not been fully elucidated, nor whether dysregulation of these proteins contributes to liver disease processes. We have examined expression of the five known Notch ligands in human liver. Expression of Jagged-1 and Delta-4 mRNA was seen in normal and diseased liver tissue, whereas Jagged-2, Delta-1, and Delta-3 mRNA was undetectable. In primary liver cell isolates, Jagged-1 expression was found in all cell types, whereas Delta-4 was present in biliary epithelial and liver endothelial cells, but absent in hepatocytes. Interestingly, Jagged-1 mRNA expression

SUBMITTER: Nijjar SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1850864 | biostudies-literature | 2002 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature