Identification of a novel alpha-fetoprotein-expressing cell population induced by the Jagged1/Notch2 signal in murine fibrotic liver.

ABSTRACT: The liver is well known to possess high regenerative capacity in response to partial resection or tissue injury. However, liver regeneration is often impaired in the case of advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis when mature hepatocytes can hardly self-proliferate. Hepatic progenitor cells have been implicated as a source of hepatocytes in regeneration of the fibrotic liver. Although alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is known as a clinical marker of progenitor cell induction in injured/fibrotic adult liver, the origin and features of such AFP-producing cells are not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate a unique and distinct AFP-expressing cell population that is induced by the Jagged1/Notch2 signal in murine fibrotic liver. Following repeated carbon tetrachloride injections, a significant number of AFP

SUBMITTER: Nakano Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5721449 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature