Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
LKB1 is an evolutionary conserved kinase implicated in a wide range of cellular functions including inhibition of cell proliferation, regulation of cell polarity and metabolism. When Lkb1 is inactivated in the liver, glucose homeostasis is perturbed, cellular polarity is affected and cholestasis develops. Cholestasis occurs as a result from deficient bile duct development, yet how LKB1 impacts on biliary morphogenesis is unknown.Methodology/principal findings
We characterized the phenotype of mice in which deletion of the Lkb1 gene has been specifically targeted to the hepatoblasts. Our results confirmed that lack of LKB1 in the liver results in bile duct paucity leading to cholestasis. Immunostaining analysis at a prenatal stage showed that LKB1 is not required for differentiation of hepatoblasts to cholangiocyte precursors but promotes maturation of the primitive ductal structures to mature bile ducts. This phenotype is similar to that obtained upon inactivation of Notch signaling in the liver. We tested the hypothesis of a functional overlap between the LKB1 and Notch pathways by gene expression profiling of livers deficient in Lkb1 or in the Notch mediator RbpJκ and identified a mutual cross-talk between LKB1 and Notch signaling. In vitro experiments confirmed that Notch activity was deficient upon LKB1 loss.Conclusion
LKB1 and Notch share a common genetic program in the liver, and regulate bile duct morphogenesis.
SUBMITTER: Just PA
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4687046 | biostudies-literature | 2015
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Just Pierre-Alexandre PA Poncy Alexis A Charawi Sara S Dahmani Rajae R Traore Massiré M Dumontet Typhanie T Drouet Valérie V Dumont Florent F Gilgenkrantz Hélène H Colnot Sabine S Terris Benoit B Coulouarn Cédric C Lemaigre Frédéric F Perret Christine C
PloS one 20151221 12
<h4>Background</h4>LKB1 is an evolutionary conserved kinase implicated in a wide range of cellular functions including inhibition of cell proliferation, regulation of cell polarity and metabolism. When Lkb1 is inactivated in the liver, glucose homeostasis is perturbed, cellular polarity is affected and cholestasis develops. Cholestasis occurs as a result from deficient bile duct development, yet how LKB1 impacts on biliary morphogenesis is unknown.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>We charac ...[more]