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Hematopoietic stem cell markers are expressed by ductal plate and bile duct cells in developing human liver

K Blakolmer1, K Jaskiewicz, H A Dunsford

  • 1MRC/UCT Liver Research Centre, University of Cape Town Medical School, Observatory, South Africa.

Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.)
|June 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Ductal plate cells share markers with hematopoietic stem cells, suggesting a link between liver and bone marrow precursors. This finding impacts our understanding of liver regeneration and bile duct development.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Stem Cell Research

Background:

  • Ductal plate cells are implicated as progenitors for bile duct epithelium and hepatocytes.
  • Their potential pluripotency, especially as oval cells in regenerating livers, warrants further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression patterns of hematopoietic stem cell markers (c-kit, CD34, CD33) and cytokeratin markers (CAM 5.2, CK 18, CK 7, OV-6) in fetal liver development.
  • To compare the marker profiles of ductal plate cells and bile duct cells with known stem cell markers.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemical analysis of fetal liver tissues at various developmental stages.
  • Detection of hematopoietic stem cell markers (c-kit, CD34, CD33), cytokeratin markers (CAM 5.2, CK 18, CK 7), laminin, and oval cell marker (OV-6).

Main Results:

  • Hematopoietic stem cell markers and early cytokeratin markers (CAM 5.2, CK 18) were expressed in ductal plate cells.
  • CK 7 expression increased after 22 weeks, while CAM 5.2 and CK 18 decreased.
  • Bile duct cells exhibited marker distributions similar to ductal plate cells, with both expressing OV-6 throughout development.

Conclusions:

  • The study reveals similarities between hepatic and bile duct precursors and bone marrow stem cells.
  • The comparable marker distribution suggests a closer relationship between ductal plate cells and bile duct epithelium than between stem cells and hepatocytes.

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