Hepatoblasts comprise a niche for fetal liver erythropoiesis through cytokine production

Daisuke Sugiyama, Kasem Kulkeaw, Chiyo Mizuochi, Yuka Horio, Satoko Okayama

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In mammals, definitive erythropoiesis first occurs in fetal liver (FL), although little is known about how the process is regulated. FL consists of hepatoblasts, sinusoid endothelial cells and hematopoietic cells. To determine niche cells for fetal liver erythropoiesis, we isolated each FL component by flow cytometry. mRNA analysis suggested that Dlk-1-expressing hepatoblasts primarily expressed EPO and SCF, genes encoding erythropoietic cytokines. EPO protein was detected predominantly in hepatoblasts, as assessed by ELISA and immunohistochemistry, and was not detected in sinusoid endothelial cells and hematopoietic cells. To characterize hepatoblast function in FL, we analyzed Map2k4-/- mouse embryos, which lack hepatoblasts, and observed down-regulation of EPO and SCF expression in FL relative to wild-type mice. Our observations demonstrate that hepatoblasts comprise a niche for erythropoiesis through cytokine secretion.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)301-306
Number of pages6
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume410
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 1 2011
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Hepatoblasts comprise a niche for fetal liver erythropoiesis through cytokine production'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this