Loss of α-catenin elicits a cholestatic response and impairs liver regeneration.
Sci Rep
; 4: 6835, 2014 Oct 30.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25355493
ABSTRACT
The liver is unique in its capacity to regenerate after injury, during which hepatocytes actively divide and establish cell-cell contacts through cell adhesion complexes. Here, we demonstrate that the loss of α-catenin, a well-established adhesion component, dramatically disrupts liver regeneration. Using a partial hepatectomy model, we show that regenerated livers from α-catenin knockdown mice are grossly larger than control regenerated livers, with an increase in cell size and proliferation. This increased proliferation correlated with increased YAP activation, implicating α-catenin in the Hippo/YAP pathway. Additionally, α-catenin knockdown mice exhibited a phenotype reminiscent of clinical cholestasis, with drastically altered bile canaliculi, elevated levels of bile components and signs of jaundice and inflammation. The disrupted regenerative capacity is a result of actin cytoskeletal disorganisation, leading to a loss of apical microvilli, dilated lumens in the bile canaliculi, and leaky tight junctions. This study illuminates a novel, essential role for α-catenin in liver regeneration.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Cholestasis
/
Alpha Catenin
/
Liver Regeneration
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Sci Rep
Year:
2014
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Singapore