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Transcription factor HNF and hepatocyte differentiation
Author(s) -
Nagaki Masahito,
Moriwaki Hisataka
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2008.00367.x
Subject(s) - transcription factor , hepatocyte nuclear factors , enhancer , biology , hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 , microbiology and biotechnology , hepatocyte , regulation of gene expression , liver regeneration , foxa2 , transcriptional regulation , cellular differentiation , gene , genetics , regeneration (biology) , nuclear receptor , in vitro
To know the precise mechanisms underlying the life or death and the regeneration or differentiation of cells would be relevant and useful for the development of a regenerative therapy for organ failure. Liver‐specific gene expression is controlled primarily at a transcriptional level. Studies on the transcriptional regulatory elements of genes expressed in hepatocytes have identified several liver‐enriched transcriptional factors, including hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)‐1, HNF‐3, HNF‐4, HNF‐6 and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein families, which are key components of the differentiation process for the fully functional liver. The transcriptional regulation by these HNFs, which form a hierarchical and cooperative network, is both essential for hepatocyte differentiation during mammalian liver development and also crucial for metabolic regulation and liver function. Among these liver‐enriched transcription factors, HNF‐4 is likely to act the furthest upstream as a master gene in transcriptional cascade and interacts with other liver‐enriched transcriptional factors to stimulate hepatocyte‐specific gene transcription. A link between the extracellular matrix, changes in cytoskeletal filament assembly and hepatocyte differentiation via HNF‐4 has been shown to be involved in the transcriptional regulation of liver‐specific gene expression. This review provides an overview of the roles of liver‐enriched transcription factors in liver function.