Pluripotent stem cell-derived bile canaliculi-forming hepatocytes to study genetic liver diseases involving hepatocyte polarity

Hepatocytes are polarized cells, exemplified by the segregation of their plasma membranes into basolateral/sinusoidal and apical/canalicular domains.1,2 Hepatocyte polarity is essential for many hepatocyte-specific functions.1 Not surprisingly therefore, loss of hepatocyte polarity is correlated with liver diseases.2 In inherited liver diseases, mutations in specific genes can cause a defect in the targeting, expression and/or function of proteins that display a steady-state residence at either sinusoidal or canalicular surface domains.
Source: Journal of Hepatology - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Tags: Research Article Source Type: research