Hedgehog signaling regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition during biliary fibrosis in rodents and humans.

ABSTRACT: Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) play an important role in tissue construction during embryogenesis, and evidence suggests that this process may also help to remodel some adult tissues after injury. Activation of the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway regulates EMT during development. This pathway is also induced by chronic biliary injury, a condition in which EMT has been suggested to have a role. We evaluated the hypothesis that Hh signaling promotes EMT in adult bile ductular cells (cholangiocytes). In liver sections from patients with chronic biliary injury and in primary cholangiocytes isolated from rats that had undergone bile duct ligation (BDL), an experimental model of biliary fibrosis, EMT was localized to cholangiocytes with Hh pathway activity. Relief of ductal obstructio

SUBMITTER: Omenetti A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2542850 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature