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Identification of intramural epithelial networks linked to peribiliary glands that express progenitor cell markers and proliferate after injury in mice.

ABSTRACT: Peribiliary glands (PBGs) are clusters of epithelial cells residing in the submucosal compartment of extrahepatic bile ducts (EHBDs). Though their function is largely undefined, they may represent a stem cell niche. Here, we hypothesized that PBGs are populated by mature and undifferentiated cells capable of proliferation in pathological states. To address this hypothesis, we developed a novel whole-mount immunostaining assay that preserves the anatomical integrity of EHBDs coupled with confocal microscopy and found that PBGs populate the entire length of the extrahepatic biliary tract, except the gallbladder. Notably, in addition to the typical position of PBGs adjacent to the duct mucosa, PBGs elongate and form intricate intramural epithelial networks that communicate between different segments of the bile duct mucosa. Network formation begins where the cystic duct combines with hepatic ducts to form the common bile duct (CBD) and continues along the CBD. Cells of PBGs and the peribiliary network stain positively for ?-tubulin, mucins, and chromogranin A, as well as for endoderm transcription factors SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 17 and pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1, and proliferate robustly subsequent to duct injury induced by virus infection and bile duct ligation.PBGs form elaborate epithelial networks within the walls of EHBDs, contain cells of mature and immature phenotypes, and proliferate in response to bile duct injury. The anatomical organization of the epithelial network in tubules and the link with PBGs support an expanded cellular reservoir with the potential to restore the integrity and function of the bile duct mucosa in diseased states.

SUBMITTER: DiPaola F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4067037 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Identification of intramural epithelial networks linked to peribiliary glands that express progenitor cell markers and proliferate after injury in mice.

DiPaola Frank F Shivakumar Pranavkumar P Pfister Janet J Walters Stephanie S Sabla Gregg G Bezerra Jorge A JA

Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) 20130806 4

<h4>Unlabelled</h4>Peribiliary glands (PBGs) are clusters of epithelial cells residing in the submucosal compartment of extrahepatic bile ducts (EHBDs). Though their function is largely undefined, they may represent a stem cell niche. Here, we hypothesized that PBGs are populated by mature and undifferentiated cells capable of proliferation in pathological states. To address this hypothesis, we developed a novel whole-mount immunostaining assay that preserves the anatomical integrity of EHBDs co ...[more]

PMID: 23703727

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Project description:Immortalized colonic epithelial progenitor cells derived from normal human colon biopsies express stem cell markers and differentiate in vitro The sustained growth of normal non-transformed human colonic epithelial cells has historically been exceptionally challenging. We here report the successful long-term propagation of colon biopsy derived cells expressing both epithelial and mesenchymal features, intestinal stem cell markers, and demonstrating multilineage epithelial differentiation capability. Cells isolated from the biopsies of two patients undergoing routine screening colonoscopy have been successfully passaged in vitro, subsequently immortalized with non-oncogenic proteins (cyclin dependent kinase 4 [CDK4] and the catalytic component of human telomerase [hTERT]), and maintained for well over a year in continuous cell culture. Immunofluorescence experiments reveal the immortalized populations of cells significantly express the progenitor epithelial cell marker mucin-1 and the colon epithelial specific marker A33. In addition, staining shows subsets of cells express chromogranin A, mucin-2, and dipeptyl peptidase 4, corresponding to neuroendocrine, mucus secreting, and absorptive colonic cell lineages, respectively. The cells also possess some mesenchymal features, including vimentin and α- smooth muscle actin expression when proliferating actively. Finally, immortalized cells express various stem cell markers including LGR5, BMI1, CD29, and CD44. When cells are seeded at low density in Matrigel® in the absence of a mesenchymal feeder layer individual cells are able to divide and form self-organizing, cyst-like structures with a subset of cells exhibiting either mucin-2 or polarized villin staining. These findings demonstrate that the immortalized human colonic cells are capable of self renewal and multilineage differentiation. These cells should serve as valuable cellular reagents for studying normal colon stem cell biology, differentiation, and disease development.

Project description:Peribiliary glands (PBG) are a source of stem/progenitor cells organized in a cellular network encircling large bile ducts. Severe cholangiopathy with loss of luminal biliary epithelium has been proposed to activate PBG, resulting in cell proliferation and differentiation to restore biliary epithelial integrity. However, formal evidence for this concept in human livers is lacking. We therefore developed an ex vivo model using precision-cut slices of extrahepatic human bile ducts obtained from discarded donor livers, providing an intact anatomical organization of cell structures, to study spatiotemporal differentiation and migration of PBG cells after severe biliary injury. Postischemic bile duct slices were incubated in oxygenated culture medium for up to a week. At baseline, severe tissue injury was evident with loss of luminal epithelial lining and mural stroma necrosis. In contrast, PBG remained relatively well preserved and different reactions of PBG were noted, including PBG dilatation, cell proliferation, and maturation. Proliferation of PBG cells increased after 24 hours of oxygenated incubation, reaching a peak after 72 hours. Proliferation of PBG cells was paralleled by a reduction in PBG apoptosis and differentiation from a primitive and pluripotent (homeobox protein Nanog+/ sex-determining region Y-box 9+) to a mature (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator+/secretin receptor+) and activated phenotype (increased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha, glucose transporter 1, and vascular endothelial growth factor A). Migration of proliferating PBG cells in our ex vivo model was unorganized, but resulted in generation of epithelial monolayers at stromal surfaces. Conclusion: Human PBG contain biliary progenitor cells and are able to respond to bile duct epithelial loss with proliferation, differentiation, and maturation to restore epithelial integrity. The ex vivo spatiotemporal behavior of human PBG cells provides evidence for a pivotal role of PBG in biliary regeneration after severe injury.

Dataset Information

Identification of intramural epithelial networks linked to peribiliary glands that express progenitor cell markers and proliferate after injury in mice.

Publications

Identification of intramural epithelial networks linked to peribiliary glands that express progenitor cell markers and proliferate after injury in mice.

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