Transcriptional Control of Hepatocyte Differentiation

• Published in: Development, Differentiation and Disease of the para-Alimentary Tract Vol. 97; pp. 79 - 101
• Main Authors: Nagaoka, Masato, Duncan, Stephen A.
• Format: Book Chapter Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Science & Technology 2010
• Subjects: Animals; Biochemistry; Cell Differentiation - genetics; Development; Diseases & disorders; Endoderm - cytology; Gene Expression Regulation; Hepatocytes - cytology; Hepatocytes - metabolism; Hepatogenesis; Humans; Liver; Molecular biology; Organogenesis; Transcription factor; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transcription, Genetic; Transcriptional network; Hepatogenesis; Development; Transcriptional network; Transcription factor; Liver; Organogenesis
• ISBN: 0123852331; 9780123852335
• ISSN: 1877-1173; 1878-0814
• DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-385233-5.00003-9

The liver is the largest glandular organ in the body and plays a central role in controlling metabolism. During hepatogenesis, complex developmental processes must generate an array of cell types that are spatially arranged to generate a hepatic architecture that is essential to support liver function. The processes that control the ultimate formation of the liver are diverse and complex and in many cases poorly defined. Much of the focus of research during the past three decades has been on understanding how hepatocytes, which are the predominant liver parenchymal cells, differentiate during embryogenesis. Through a combination of mouse molecular genetics, embryology, and molecular biochemistry, investigators have defined a myriad of transcription factors that combine to control formation and function of hepatocytes. Here, we will review the major discoveries that underlie our current understanding of transcriptional regulation of hepatocyte differentiation.