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SgIGSF is a novel biliary–epithelial cell adhesion molecule mediating duct/ductule development
Author(s) -
Ito Akihiko,
Nishikawa Yuji,
Ohnuma Kazuhiro,
Ohnuma Ikuyo,
Koma Yuichiro,
Sato Ayuko,
Enomoto Katsuhiko,
Tsujimura Tohru,
Yokozaki Hiroshi
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.21501
Subject(s) - cytokeratin , immunohistochemistry , bile duct , cell adhesion molecule , western blot , hepatocyte , pathology , immunoglobulin superfamily , antibody , biology , fetus , intercellular adhesion molecule 1 , intrahepatic bile ducts , medicine , in vitro , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , biochemistry , gene , pregnancy , genetics
Abstract Spermatogenic immunoglobulin superfamily (SgIGSF) is an intercellular adhesion molecule of the nectin‐like family. While screening its tissue distribution, we found that it was expressed in fetal liver but not adult liver. In the present study, we examined which cells in developing and regenerating liver express SgIGSF via immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. In developing mouse liver, SgIGSF expression was transiently upregulated at perinatal ages and was restricted to the lateral membrane of biliary epithelial cells (BECs). In regenerating rat livers from the 2‐acetylaminofluorene/partial hepatectomy model, SgIGSF was detected exclusively in oval cells that aligned in ductal and trabecular patterns by the second week posthepatectomy. In human livers, fetal and newborn bile ducts and cirrhotic bile ductules were clearly positive for SgIGSF, whereas disease‐free adult bile ducts were negative. To investigate the role of SgIGSF in bile duct/ductule formation, we used an in vitro model in which rat hepatocyte aggregates embedded in collagen gels containing insulin and epidermal growth factor extend epithelial sheets and processes in the first week and form ductules within a month. The process and ductular cells were continuously positive for SgIGSF and cytokeratin 19, a BEC marker. When the aggregate culture was started in the presence of a function‐blocking anti‐SgIGSF antibody, the number of epithelial processes per aggregate was reduced by 80%. Conclusion: We propose that SgIGSF is a novel and functional BEC adhesion molecule that is expressed for a limited time during active bile duct/ductule formation. (H EPATOLOGY 2007;45:684–694.)