title: Increased expression of keratin polypeptides in long term culture of adult rat hepatocytes.
abstract: Adult rat hepatocyte cultures showed the presence of albumin after 1 week of seeding. As the cultures aged, the cells commenced expressing alpha-foetoprotein and later keratin polypeptides 55 and 52 kD but ceased expressing albumin and alpha-foetoprotein. Enhanced expression of keratin polypeptides was confirmed by Western blot analysis in long term cultures. A possible mechanism for dedifferentiation of hepatocytes in culture is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015870:Gene Expression; D007633:Keratins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010452:Peptide Biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D015415:Biomarkers; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D007633:Keratins