title: Expression of MRP2 and MDR1 transporters and other hepatic markers in rat and human liver and in WRL 68 cell line.
abstract: Here we describe a comparative study of phenotypic properties of hepatic cells in situ and in vitro. We analyzed the expression levels and distribution patterns of ABC transporters MRP2 and MDR1, pan-cytokeratin, cytokeratin 18, albumin, alpha-fetoprotein and the specific hepatocyte marker OCH1E5 in the fetal and adult rat as well as human liver tissue and in human fetal hepatocytes of WRL 68 cell line using peroxidase immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence. Transporters MRP2 and MDR1 were expressed in all examined liver tissues, except rat ED13 embryo. The immunopositivity of these proteins was localized to the canalicular membrane of differentiating and mature hepatocytes but in the later developmental stages and in the adult liver tissues it was also found in the apical membrane of cholangiocytes. In WRL 68 cells, MRP2 and MDR1 immunoreactivity appeared after 5-6 days of cultivation and both transporters were fully expressed in the plasmalemma and in the cytoplasm 9 days after the passage. In conclusion, we observed only moderate variances reflecting diverse ontogenetic phases between the fetal and adult liver tissue. To study functions of hepatocytes in vitro, WRL 68 cells have to differentiate prior to the examination. Our findings indicate that WRL 68 cells can undergo differentiation in vitro and their antigenic profile closely resembles hepatocytes in the human liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Simkova 870, 500 38 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. cizkovad@lfhk.cuni.cz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cízková
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morký
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Micuda
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osterreicher
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínková
mesh_terms: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000089762:Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D015415:Biomarkers; D007633:Keratins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D000089762:Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; C000715087:ABCC2 protein, human