title: Differential expression of HNF4alpha isoforms in liver stem cells and hepatocytes.
abstract: The hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF4alpha) has been implicated in liver development and hepatocellular differentiation. The HNF4alpha expression in liver stem cells has not yet been fully investigated. Here, we describe the expression characterization of HNF4alpha in liver stem cells isolated from 2-acetylaminofluorene/partial hepatectomy (AAF/PH) rat model by a combination of density-gradient centrifugation and selective enzymatic digestion. The obtained cells were identified by flow cytometry (FCM) immediately and then by immunocytochemisty and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after 5 d culture. The cultured stem cells were subjected to analysis of the expression of various HNF4alpha isoforms using RT-PCR, Western blotting, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Results showed that HNF4alpha isoforms, alpha1, alpha2, alpha7, and alpha8 were present in liver stem cells, which contrasted with only alpha1 and alpha2 expression in hepatocytes. The distinct expression patterns of HNF4alpha isoforms in liver stem cells may contribute to maintain the "stemness" of these cells.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China.
authors.forename: Keguo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Haiquan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Meifu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D015870:Gene Expression; D051557:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D051557:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4; C496594:Hnf4a protein, rat; D020033:Protein Isoforms