Autophagy regulates biliary differentiation of hepatic progenitor cells through Notch1 signaling pathway. Issue 12 (17th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zeng, Jianxing; Jing, Yingying; Shi, Rongyu; Pan, Xiaorong; Lai, Fobao; Liu, Wenting; Li, Rong; Gao, Lu; Hou, Xiaojuan; Wu, Mengchao; Wei, Lixin
• Is Part Of: Cell cycle. Volume 15:Issue 12(2016)
• Page Start: 1602
• Page End: 1610
• Publication Date: 2016-06-17
• Subjects: autophagy -- biliary differentiation -- hepatic progenitor cells -- Notch1; Cell cycle -- Periodicals; 571.84377
• DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2016.1181234
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1538-4101

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Autophagy plays important roles in self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells. Hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) are thought to have the ability of self-renewal as well as possess a bipotential capacity, which allows them to differentiate into both hepatocytes and bile ductular cells. However, how autophagy contributes to self-renewal and differentiation of hepatic progenitor cells is not well understood. In this study, we use a well-established rat hepatic progenitor cell lines called WB-F344, which is treated with 3.75 mM sodium butyrate (SB) to promote the differentiation of WB-F344 along the biliary phenotype. We found that autophagy was decreased in the early stage of biliary differentiation, and maintained a low level at the late stage. Activation of autophagy by rapamycin or starvation suppressed the biliary differentiation of WB-F344. Further study reported that autophagy inhibited Notch1 signaling pathway, which contributed to biliary differentiation and morphogenesis. In conclusions, autophagy regulates biliary differentiation of hepatic progenitor cells through Notch1 signaling pathway.