Van Gogh-like 2 is essential for the architectural patterning of the mammalian biliary tree
In the developing liver, bipotent epithelial progenitor cells undergo lineage segregation to form hepatocytes, which constitute the bulk of the liver parenchyma, and biliary epithelial cells (cholangiocytes), which comprise the bile duct (a complex tubular network that is critical for normal liver function). Notch and TGF β signalling promote the formation of a sheet of biliary epithelial cells, the ductal plate, that organises into discontinuous tubular structures. How these structures elongate and connect to form a continuous duct remains undefined.
Source: Journal of Hepatology - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Michaela Raab, Ersi Christodoulou, Roopesh Krishnankutty, Andreea Gradinaru, Alexander Daniel Walker, Paula Olaizola, Nicholas Thomas Younger, Anabel Martinez Lyons, Edward Joseph Jarman, Konstantinos Gournopanos, Alexander von Kriegsheim, Scott Hamilton Tags: Research Article Source Type: research