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: Tags: Research Article Source Type: research