Intrahepatic bile ducts develop according to a new mode of tubulogenesis regulated by the transcription factor SOX9.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

A number of diseases are characterized by defective formation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. In the embryo, hepatoblasts differentiate to cholangiocytes, which give rise to the bile ducts. Here, we investigated duct development in mouse liver and characterized the role of the SRY-related HMG box transcription factor 9 (SOX9).

Methods

We identified SOX9 as a new biliary marker and used it in immunostaining experiments to characterize bile duct morphogenesis. The expression of growth factors was determined by in situ hybridization and immunostaining, and their role was studied on cultured hepatoblasts. SOX9 function was investigated by phenotyping mice with a liver-specific inactivation of Sox9.

Results

Biliary tubulogenesis started with formation of

SUBMITTER: Antoniou A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2743481 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature