title: Epiplakin1 is expressed in the cholangiocyte lineage cells in normal liver and adult progenitor cells in injured liver.
abstract: We have previously identified Epiplakin1 (Eppk1) as a gene expressed in pancreatic progenitor cells. Here we studied the expression of Eppk1 in developing and regenerating livers in mice. Eppk1 is initially expressed in the early bipotential hepatoblasts and is later confined to the cholangiocytes. After birth, Eppk1 is expressed in the bile duct. In the livers of mice fed with a choline-deficient ethionine-supplemented (CDE) diet, Eppk1-positive cells dramatically increase in number. The Eppk1-positive cells express A6, thereby indicating that they are hepatic progenitor cells. Other cholangiocyte markers, such as Cytokeratins, E-cadherin, osteopontin and Sox9, are also co-expressed in the hepatic progenitor cells. Some of the Eppk1-positive cells express PCNA, a proliferation marker, thereby suggesting their identities as transient amplifying cells. In conclusion, we have shown that Eppk1 serves as a useful marker for detecting the hepatic progenitor population in the developing and adult liver. The use of Eppk1 as a marker will facilitate studies of mouse hepatic progenitor cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Honjo 2-2-1, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Tetsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasukawa
authors.forename: Rika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kume
authors.forename: Shoen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kume
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000293:injuries; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D000072099:Serrate-Jagged Proteins; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D001324:Autoantigens; D015820:Cadherins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000072099:Serrate-Jagged Proteins; C426678:epiplakin