The development of hepatic stellate cells in normal and abnormal human fetuses : an immunohistochemical study

Christine K. C. Loo, Tamara N. Pereira, Katarzyna N. Pozniak, Mette Ramsing, Ida Vogel, Grant A. Ramm

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The precise embryological origin and development of hepatic stellate cells is not established. Animal studies and observations on human fetuses suggest that they derive from posterior mesodermal cells that migrate via the septum transversum and developing diaphragm to form submesothelial cells beneath the liver capsule, which give rise to mesenchymal cells including hepatic stellate cells. However, it is unclear if these are similar to hepatic stellate cells in adults or if this is the only source of stellate cells. We have studied hepatic stellate cells by immunohistochemistry, in developing human liver from autopsies of fetuses with and without malformations and growth restriction, using cellular Retinol Binding Protein-1 (cRBP-1), Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), and α-Smooth Muscle Actin (αSMA) antibodies, to identify factors that influence their development. We found that hepatic stellate cells expressing cRBP-1 are present from the end of the first trimester of gestation and reduce in density throughout gestation. They appear abnormally formed and variably reduced in number in fetuses with abnormal mesothelial Wilms Tumor 1 (WT1) function, diaphragmatic hernia and in ectopic liver nodules without mesothelium. Stellate cells showed similarities to intravascular cells and their presence in a fetus with diaphragm agenesis suggests they may be derived from circulating stem cells. Our observations suggest circulating stem cells as well as mesothelium can give rise to hepatic stellate cells, and that they require normal mesothelial function for their development.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere12504
Number of pages15
JournalPhysiological Reports
Volume3
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Open Access - Access Right Statement

©2015 The Authors. Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf ofthe American Physiological Society and The Physiological Society. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Keywords

  • diaphragm
  • fetus
  • glial fibrillary acidic protein
  • mesothelium
  • stem cells

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