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Hepatocyte-specific Ablation in Zebrafish to Study Biliary-driven Liver Regeneration
Published on: May 20, 2015
Unraveling the Epigenetic Basis of Liver Development, Regeneration and Disease
Filippo Macchi1, Kirsten C Sadler1
1Program in Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Abstract:
A wealth of studies over several decades has revealed an epigenetic prepattern that determines the competence of cellular differentiation in the developing liver. More recently, studies focused on the impact of epigenetic factors during liver regeneration suggest that an epigenetic code in the quiescent liver may establish its regenerative potential. We review work on the pioneer factors and other chromatin remodelers that impact the gene expression patterns instructing hepatocyte and biliary cell specification and differentiation, along with the requirement of epigenetic regulatory factors for hepatic outgrowth. We then explore recent studies involving the role of epigenetic regulators, Arid1a and Uhrf1, in efficient activation of proregenerative genes during liver regeneration, thus highlighting the epigenetic mechanisms of liver disease and tumor development.
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