Immune and Metabolic Shifts During Neonatal Development Reprogram Liver Identity and Function

The liver has multiple functions and its vital importance starts during gestational phase [1]. The primordial liver is formed in the initial stages of embryonic development (week 4 in humans and E8.5 in mouse), and it is the destination of several immune cell precursors that arise from the yolk sac [2]. Fetal liver harbors different hepatic progenitor cells and a great number of other mesenchyme-derived cells, including immune cells in different stages of maturation [3]. In fact, macrophages, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), endothelial and mesenchymal stem cells compose a complex cellular repertoire during the major part of hepatic embryogenesis [4].

Source: Journal of Hepatology - August 29, 2018 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Brenda Naemi Nakagaki, Kassiana Mafra, Érika de Carvalho, Mateus Eustáquio Lopes, Raquel Carvalho-Gontijo, Hortência Maciel de Castro Oliveira, Gabriel Henrique Campolina-Silva, Camila Dutra Moreira de Miranda, Maísa Mota Antunes, Ana Carolina Carvalh Source Type: research