Spatial heterogeneity in the mammalian liver

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary system
• Molecular biology
• Genomics

Background:

• Liver lobules are structured units with spatial gradients influencing hepatocyte function.
• Non-uniform gene expression, termed zonation, is a key characteristic of liver physiology.
• Single-cell transcriptomics revealed widespread zonation in mouse liver, affecting approximately 50% of genes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present genomic approaches for studying liver zonation.
• To describe the principles governing liver zonation patterns.
• To explore challenges and solutions for mapping non-parenchymal cell zonation.

Main Methods:

• Genomic approaches
• Single-cell transcriptomics
• Spatial mapping of gene expression

Main Results:

• Approximately 50% of hepatocyte genes exhibit zonated expression patterns in mice.
• Spatial heterogeneity suggests distinct epigenetic features and functional capacities across lobule zones.
• Genomic methods facilitate high-resolution mapping of liver zonation.

Conclusions:

• Liver zonation is a fundamental principle with broad implications for hepatocyte function.
• Genomic approaches enable detailed characterization of liver zonation at cellular resolution.
• Understanding zonation is crucial for studying liver physiology and pathology.