Lgr5⁺ pericentral hepatocytes are self-maintained in normal liver regeneration and susceptible to hepatocarcinogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Emerging evidence suggests that hepatocytes are primarily maintained by self-renewal during normal liver homeostasis, as well as in response to a wide variety of hepatic injuries. However, how hepatocytes in distinct anatomic locations within the liver lobule are replenished under homeostasis and injury-induced regeneration remains elusive. Using a newly developed bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-transgenic mouse model, we demonstrate that Lgr5 expression in the liver is restricted to a unique subset of hepatocytes most adjacent to the central veins. Genetic lineage tracing revealed that pericentral Lgr5⁺ hepatocytes have a long lifespan and mainly contribute to their own lineage maintenance during postnatal liver development and homeostasis. Remarkably, these hepato

SUBMITTER: Ang CH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6765306 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature